Committee with reps from Defense, Home ministries to name geographic locations

The Finance and Planning Ministry on Thursday publicized a new policy on naming geographic locations, under which a special nine-member committee, including representatives from the Defense Ministry and the Home Ministry, will be set up to name geographic locations in the Maldives.

According to the new policy, the committee will be responsible for naming and renaming geographic locations such as islands, land, lagoons, and reefs.

The nine-member committee will be composed of:

• A representative from the President’s Office
• A representative from the state institution responsible surveying land drawing charts
• A representative from the Finance and Planning Ministry
• A member of the Dhivehi Bahuge Academy
• A representative from the Tourism and Environment Ministry
• A representative from the Agriculture and Animal Welfare Ministry
• A representative from the Dhivehi Language, Culture and Heritage Ministry
• A member of the Local Government Authority
• A representative from the Defense Ministry
• A representative from the Home Ministry

According to the new policy, the names passed by the committee must be a Dhivehi name, must fit societal standards, must be simple and easy to say, and must not be a name of a person or an existing place.

It also states that names given to islands and lagoons must reflect the geographic age of the locations, and its history and other special attributes.

Name suggestions must be submitted to the Finance and Planning Ministry. The ministry is required to forward the proposal to the committee within 15 days, and the committee is required to make a decision within 15 days.