Utheemu residents to be conferred national honor for preserving centuries-old palace

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has decided to confer the people of HA. Utheemu a special national honor in recognition of their contributions towards protecting and promoting the Maldives’ national identity.

The decision was announced by the President’s Office in a statement on Saturday.

According to the statement, President Muizzu made the decision in recognition of the role played by and the priority given by the island towards protecting and preserving the Utheemu Ganduvaru or Utheemu Palace, a historical site that dates back some 500 years.

The honor will be conferred by President Muizzu during the official National Day function scheduled to begin in Utheemu at 10:00 am on Sunday.

Utheemu is the birthplace and home of Sultan Mohamed Thakurufaanu, one of the most revered heroes in Maldivian history.

In 1558, the Portuguese invaded the Maldives, killing Sultan Ali VI in battle and establishing their rule over Maldives. Mohamed Thakurufaanu, and his brothers Ali and Hassan left the Maldives to Minicoy to make preparations for their campaign to free the country from Portuguese rule. They returned to the Maldives, and led an eight-year-long fight to free the country from the Portuguese. In order to evade capture, they would land on different islands in the darkness of the night, fought the Portuguese and left before daybreak. Eventually they landed in Male’ and defeated the Portuguese leadership in the capital.

The Maldivian National Day celebrates the victory of Mohamed Thakurufaanu over the Portuguese occupation in 1573.

Free from the shackles of the Portuguese, the people chose Mohamed Thukurufaanu as the Sultan.

He ruled the Maldives for 12 years until his death in 1585.

The Utheemu Palace is a symbol of Maldivian heritage and architecture, reflecting traditional craftsmanship and design. It consists of wooden structures with intricate carvings, typical of Maldivian architecture of that era.