US provides $20,000 for conservation of artefacts

The US Ambassadors’ Fund for Cultural Preservation has granted Maldives Department of Heritage $20,000 (MVR308,400) as aid for the conservation of artefacts.

The aid was presented by US Ambassador to Maldives and Sri Lanka Michele J Sison, and received on behalf of the Maldives government by Minister of State for Tourism Arts and Culture Ahmed Shameem at a ceremony held at the National Museum today.

Sison said while speaking at the ceremony that such grants symbolise the sincere interest of the US to assist the National Museum of Maldives.

She said that the relics at the Museum are important not just to tourists and students who visit the Museum, but also to researchers and academics, and therefore must be preserved.

Sison noted that the US Ambassadors’ Fund for Cultural Preservation had provided aid to Maldives on several occasions since it was established ten years ago.

Shameem, in his speech, expressed gratitude to the US for its grants to Maldives.

Director General of the Department of Heritage Ali Waheed said that part of the money provided today will be utilised for the improvement of the National Museum, including training of personnel.

He said that the money will also be used to restore the artefacts which were destroyed in the attack on the Museum on 7 February 2012.

Ali Waheed further informed that the aid provided by the US Ambassadors’ Fund for Cultural Preservation was subsequent to a request made by the Department of Heritage of Maldives.