Mal

Malé International Airport has been renamed after Velanage Ibrahim Nasir, the late President of the Maldives, who won the country her independence from the British on 26th July 1965 during his office as Grand Vizier of the State, before becoming President. As such, Malé International Airport located at Hulhulé, a 15-minute boat-journey away from Malé the capital, would henceforth be known as Ibrahim Nasir International Airport.

Adil Saleem, Minister for Transport said today that the decision to rename the only international airport in the country after late President Nasir was made about two months ago, and that it would come into effect starting on 26th July 2011.

“Everything that needs to be done with this change shall be done as soon as possible. This will be done by the company that now runs the Airport”, said Adil. He said that an official function to mark the renaming of Airport was not conducted as that was not deemed necessary by the Ministry.

Management of Malé International Airport, now Ibrahim Nasir International Airport, has recently been handed over to India’s GMR.

Malé International Airport was first built by Ibrahim Nasir during his office as Grand Vizier of the State. Transport Minister Adil said today that the government’s hope was to see the Airport developed under GMR to be known with the name of its founder.

Late Ibrahim Nasir Rannabandeyri Kilegefan (N.G.I.V) is regarded as the eternal hero of Maldive independence. Prime Minister Ibrahim Nasir Rannabandeyri Kilegefan went on to become the first president of the Maldives after the independence on 26th July 1965. He was the president of Maldives from 11th November 1968 untill he resigned on 10th November 1978.

Ibrahim Nasir brought the Maldives screaming out into the modern world. He insisted that the Maldives gained admission to the UN against the opposition of countries that did not feel that the UN was the place for small states. The Maldives was the first state of its size (population less than 80,000 in 1965) admitted to the UN. Mini states that had long been independent such as San Marino and Monaco were not members of the UN. Western Samoa which became independent of this country only a few years earlier too was not in the UN at that stage.

Ibrahim Nasir introduced a modern educational curriculum in the English medium to government-run schools. He introduced radio and television and mechanization of traditional fishing fleets.

He incepted civil aviation and was the pioneer of the tourism industry because of which many Maldivians have gained incredible wealth.

Ibrahim Nasir removed many of the old draconian measures and made travel free for Maldivians. Prior to that, Maldivians travelling overseas had to obtain exit visas. Under his leadership, the old inequitous poll tax called vaaru, levied on Maldivians who were residents of islands other than Malé was abolished. He also abolished a huge array of other taxes including duty on all personal and commercial imports.