We see the country being plunged into destruction for political gain: President

President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has said that we are now seeing a time where people are trying to plunge the country into destruction for political gain.

Speaking at a function today held at the Islamic Centre conference hall to celebrate the National Day of Unity, the President said that the extent to which the social fabric of unity has been torn is apparent when we consider the sights and sounds we hear in the country today. He said that we often see personal interests given priority over the interests of the nation.

The President said that we have to give think about improving national unity and that it is the responsibility of every citizen to try and promote this unity. He said that a lot of work has to be done in order to push the country back to its heights, and that nobody should step away from this challenge.

“From the sights we see and the sounds we hear in our country today, from all that is spoken and written, we see our social fabric of unity being torn apart. We see our country being plunged into chaos for the benefit of personal political gains. The country’s interests being pushed back in the face of personal interests,” said the President.

He said we should not step back when faced with personal responsibility, and that we have to prioritize the country’s interests. He also said that if the society is divided the fires of sedition will cause our society to suffer from its undesirable heat. He added that every instance that there is decline in national solidarity is an opportunity for outsiders to influence the people.

“We have to bring national interest before personal interests. If we are divided and if fires of sedition keep roaring amongst us, the entire country will suffer from its heat,” said the President.

Speaking about the day of unity, the President said that some of the islands in the country had suffered great damages during the tsunami catastrophe, and that a large number of people had lost their homes. He said that some islands were devastated to such an extent that they were unfit for habitation and that people were forced to be move to other islands.

The 2004 tsunami had affected all inhabited islands in the Maldives except nine. The President said that some people had lost all their livelihood and belongings during the tragedy, and that the lives they had built for themselves over a long period of time had been washed away by the waves. He added that the country had drowned in the Indian Ocean that day and that sadness will never be forgotten.

Eighty six Maldivian lost their lives during the tsunami which struck the country on Sunday the 26th of December 2004. Twenty six people were never found.