President calls to foster affection for Dhivehi Language

President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has called on the Dhivehi Language Academy to organize special national programs to foster affection for Dhivehi language in the hearts of Maldivians, and boost the promotion and preservation of the language.

The President made his statements while speaking at the special function organized by the Dhivehi Language Academy held in the Republic Square yesterday to mark this year’s International Mother Language day.

In his speech, President Waheed said that promoting and preserving the language was not only the responsibility of one single institution, but should rather be considered a national obligation. The President noted that the community’s support and cooperation for the Dhivehi Language Academy would serve greatly towards the protection and advancement of the language.

The President said that the Dhivehi language is a vital instrument in the development and promotion of the country’s human resources and that neglecting the language and a lack of effort towards its development would cause it to be supressed.

Further, the President appealed to all parents, guardians and teachers to be heedful of protecting our language, and encouraging the proper use of the language. He expressed his concern over the misuse of the Dhivehi language among Maldivians, especially that among the youth.

The President said that the work by different Dhivehi writers has to be continuously remembered, and said that the work they did for the language must be preserved for the benefit of the current generation and the generations to come.