President Abdullah Yameen Abdul Qayyoom has stated that airport and tourism in the country were developed as a challenge to the English.
Speaking in the official ceremony to mark the Golden Jubilee of Ibrahim Nasir International Airport, he said 50 years before the diplomatic gateway to the Maldives was Sri Lanka. He added that then Sri Lanka was accessed only by going to Gan, Addu atoll and using the English flights to travel from there.
President Yameen said that the then President Ibrahim Nasir was a captain who taught that as a nation, we do not have to settle.
“He did not believe that it was the right thing. He began this a struggle to bring in development and self-sufficiency. He made this vision of self-sufficiency to develop our airport from our means, become a vibrant economy. His vision was to challenge the English, the biggest colonial power at that time. Ibrahim Nasir was the first leader to show that we do not have to settle. Naming the airport after him is a fitting tribute,”
President Yameen added that it was not only the Portuguese and the Malabars who had fought with the Maldives, noting that we were able to overcome the biggest issues when we achieved independence.
“We had this stipulation, that we could not conduct our foreign affairs without the presence of the English government. This is a clear indicator of how weak we were,”
He said the independence of the nation and airport development were linked, adding that all citizens, irrespective of rank and family, had contributed to the initiative. And that this facilitated an open gateway, a main gateway to the nation and the economy.
The President said that airport and resort development in the country were ideas that was scoffed by English consultants, who said the idea was not a feasible one.
“But due to our hard work and determination we have Maldives the premier destination for tourism. Our airport is noted as one of the best airports in the world, recognized by many,”
Airport, tourism developed by challenging the English: President Yameen
