Siyam urges every Maldivian to engage in income-generating work and help diversify the economy

Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) President and Dh. Meedhoo MP Ahmed Siyam Mohamed has urged every Maldivian to actively participate in income-generating work and help diversify the nation’s economy, stating that the country must not rely solely on tourism.

Siyam made the appeal in his address on the occasion of Maldives’ National Day.

In his message, Siyam said global political shifts and ongoing conflicts are creating challenges that affect people’s daily lives. He stressed that developing additional industries and expanding the economic base has become essential, as Maldives’ tourism-dependent economy remains vulnerable to external shocks.

“In order for us to be self-sufficient, I advise every citizen to be engaged in income-generating activities and diligent,” Siyam said.

Reflecting on the National Day hero As-Sultaan al-Ghaazee Muhammad Thakurufaanu al-Auzam (Bodu Thakurufaanu), Siyam highlighted his unwavering struggle to liberate Maldives from Portuguese rule. He said Thakurufaanu’s unmatched courage, service to Islamic unity, and efforts to lay the foundations of a prosperous nation should serve as a guiding lesson for every Maldivian child today.

Siyam concluded his address by extending warm National Day greetings to the people of Maldives and MDA members. He also prayed that Maldives remains an independent and sovereign nation under Islamic guidance, and continues to prosper.

The National Day of the Maldives (Gaumee dhuvas) is celebrated on the first day of Rabi' al-Awwal, the third month of the Islamic calendar. It marks the historic victory of Bodu Thakurufaanu over Portuguese occupation in 1573.

Through masterfully executed guerrilla tactics, Bodu Thakurufaanu and his resilient band of warriors struck with legendary stealth to shatter fifteen years of brutal foreign oppression and reclaim the sovereignty of the Maldives.