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Addu City (Dhivehi: އައްޑޫ ސިޓީ), formerly known as Seenu Atoll and Addu Atoll is a city in Maldives consisting of the southernmost atoll of the archipelago. Addu City is the second-largest inhabitance in Maldives in terms of population, and is the only city-level inhabitance other than the capital city of Male’. Addu City’s administrative codes are S and ސ (Seenu).

Addu City has 6 districts. They are Hithadhoo, Maradhoo-Feydhoo, Maradhoo, Feydhoo, Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo. In addition to these districts, the city has numerous regions and/or islands that have been declared as uninhabited areas.

History

British base and station

Addu Atoll map in 1976.

In August 1941, the net layer HMS Guardian landed Royal Navy construction crews in Addu to construct a secret naval base for Britain’s Eastern Fleet among growing concern that the Malay Barrier and Ceylon may be compromised in the event of a Japanese attack.

After the fall of Singapore, the fleet moved base to Trincomalee, Ceylon. The new Commander-in-chief of the Eastern Fleet, Admiral Sir James Somerville found the base's security inadequate and ordered an alternative forward base set up somewhere in the middle of the Indian Ocean, which became known as “Port T”. Not openly stated, but understood, was that such a secret island base would also be secure from the prying eyes of Indian nationalists, all of whom were suspected of being in league with the Japanese during the paranoid days of late 1941.

The Royal Navy selected the southernmost island, Gan (pronounced "Yahn") for their airfield and began construction of three crushed-coral airstrips for the Fleet Air Arm. The FAA airfield on Gan in theory could handle all aircraft in the British inventory, but had short runways and larger bombers often crashed on landing. While troops hacked down the jungle on Gan and prepared the airstrips, Catalina and Sunderland flying boats began operating from the jetties on the north shore of Gan. The airifeld’s most important facilities were the big oil tanks built on Gan and on Hithadhoo on the western edge of the atoll.

The 1st Royal Marine Coast Defence Regiment provided the garrison troops, manning shore batteries and anti-aircraft guns on all six of the atoll’s major islands. To facilitate the defence, the important islands on the western edge of the atoll would be linked by a light railway across causeways built up between the islands. This was not operational until much later in the war. Except for the Gan Channel, the other openings were permanently closed by anti-submarine nets.

A pair of Australian refrigerator ships were requisitioned in Sydney, loaded with canned foods, several tons of American-made cigarettes and 5,200 gallons of rum, and stationed in the lagoon to re-supply British warships. These had Chinese crews and Australian civilian officers, and most of the work was handled by Maldivians hired from the local population. Several large Second Australian Imperial Force troop convoys also refueled at Addu on their way from Aden to Fremantle, Western Australia. Addu was an unpopular posting due to the hot, humid climate, lack of recreational facilities and lack of socializing with the local population.

The Japanese were not aware of the base’s existence during the Indian Ocean raid in 1942 and Somerville’s fleet used it extensively. Later in the war, submarine reconnaissance established the base’s existence, but by this point the Imperial Japanese Navy had no designs for a large-scale offensive in the Indian Ocean. The German submarine U-183 did torpedo the tanker British Loyalty in March 1944, making an impressive long-range shot from outside the atoll through a gap in the anti-torpedo nets. On 5 January 1946, British Loyalty was scuttled in a lagoon southeast of Hithadhoo. After some years of leaking oil, she has become a popular dive location and a haven for the local marine life. During the Cold War, the base was used as an outpost.

In 1957, the naval base was transferred to the Royal Air Force and renamed RAF Gan. It remained in intermittent service until 1975, when British forces withdrew. Most of the employees who had experience working for the British military spoke good English. When RAF Station Gan closed, they turned to the nascent tourism industry for employment. As a result, there was an influx of Addu people to Malé seeking employment in the nearby resorts and also looking for education to their children. The base has now been converted into a tourist resort with the airstrip now serving Gan International Airport.

The United Suvadive Republic

Since the early days of British presence in Addu, the central Maldivian government denied the locals the right to conduct any bartering with the British. Furthermore, after the introduction of the harsh new measures to control the import and export trade, the central government went on to stipulate other measures of control, such as a poll tax and a land tax. Some time later, under a new agreement with the government, the Addu people were allowed to seek employment in the British bases, enabling them to obtain rewarding incomes and lavish goods while relishing the idea of less dependence.

In 1957, Sultan Muhammad Fareed Didi appointed Ibrahim Nasir as the prime minister of the nation; who then went on to order the British to cease all construction undertakings in Addu, a decision which was met with fierce opposition and unrest from the Addu people.

In 1959, a delegation of the Addu people arrived on Gan and declared their independence from the central Maldivian government. The secession was backed by the British, with liaison officer Abdullah Afeef declared the leader. The neighbouring atolls of Huvadhu and Fuvahmulah soon joined the break-away revolution.

On January 3, 1959, The United Suvadive Republic (Dhivehi: އެކުވެރި ސުވާދީބު ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ) was declared with Hithadhoo as the capital. A year later, in 1960, due to the Maldive prime minister's tireless international campaigns, a new accord between the British and Maldivian governments was approved and the former soon announced the termination of their so-called support to the Suvadive separatists. This accord constituted that Maldives will the United Kingdom to continue to use both the Gan and the Hithadhoo facilities for a thirty-year period, with a payment of £750,000.

On September 22, 1963, a British political agent dictated an ultimatum to the citizens of Maradhoo demanding the immediate removal of the Suvadive flag and the hoisting of that of the Maldives. This was done the next day, September 23, 1963, effectively marking the dismantlement of the republic. The British then announced that they would only employ citizens of the sovereign sultanate of the Maldive Islands as workers at the airbase.

After the short-lived independence from the central government, the continued British presence in Addu until 1957 gave a measure of prosperity to the Suvadivians. They were provided with employment, health facilities and supplies which helped to alleviate the trade boycott imposed by the governments of the Maldives, Ceylon and India.

Post British presence

When Maldives gained independence from the British in 1965, the British were allowed to retain their Addu facilities under the 1960 accord. Britain's decision in 1975 to close its airfield on Gan added to extensive economic problems Maldives was facing at the time. A steep commercial decline followed the evacuation of Gan in March 1976. As a result, the popularity of Nasir's government suffered.

Due to the British presence on the islands, Addu boasted a higher advancement in living conditions than other atolls in the years that followed. Addu had the first causeway link road to be built in the country as well as paved streets. Better educational levels and English language literacy was seen in the following generations of Addu people.

During Gayyoom's 30 year regime, a large number of Addu people were recorded to have migrated to the capital Male' due to the lack of job opportunites, infastructure development and educational improvements implemented in the atoll. As much as 60 percent of some islands is estimated to now reside in the Male’.

Nasheed regime and becoming a city

In 2008, the Maldives held it's first multi-party presidential elections and elected Mohamed Nasheed as President. Addu was one of the atolls that gave overwhelming support to Nasheed and the Maldivian Democratic Party, with Nasheed promising the people of Addu to restore the atoll's former glory by focusing more development towards the atoll, the country's second most populous area. In 2010, the Nasheed administration introduced the Decentralisation Act, re-listing the administrative constituencies of the Maldives.

“When the islands are announced, there will be a major change to the largest atoll in the south, Addu Atoll” he said. “In my view, the results of the referendum showed very clearly that citizens of the atoll want to develop as a city. So we will designate Addu Atoll as one city island. Addu Atoll is an island with the districts Hithadhoo, Maradhoo-Feydhoo, Maradhoo, Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo.”

With over 30,000 inhabitants, Addu Atoll is the second largest population centre in the country. A referendum was held in Addu on whether the atoll should be designated a city. According to official results, of 26,676 people who participated in the referendum, 16,695 voted in favour of the proposal while 8,402 voted against it. However, of the six islands in Addu Atoll where voting took place, citizens of Hithadhoo, Maradhoo, Maradhoo-Feydhoo and Hulhudhoo endorsed the proposal, while islanders of Feydhoo and Meedhoo rejected it.

With the 2010 ratification of the Decentralisation Act, the atoll was officially designated a city and renamed "Addu City" in 2011. The six islands of Addu Atoll became the six districts of the city. A mayor and city council was subsequently elected to govern the city.

The Nasheed regime saw more attention being given to the southern-most atoll of the country, with the city hosting the high-profile 17th SAARC Summit in 2011. This event saw the building of a new convention centre, renovating of roads and public spaces, tourist attractions and hotels and an influx of job opportunities in the city.

Districts

Hithadhoo Population: 15146
Maradhoo Population: 5203
Feydhoo Population: 5222
Hulhumeedhoo Population: 6492

Addu City: Population: 32062

Hithdhoo, Central Business District and Seat of the Local Government

Hithaadhoo (Dhivehi: ހިތަދޫ) is a district of Addu City, in the Maldives. Hithadhoo is the main administrative district of Addu City, with many of the administrative buildings in this district. The town is situated on the island of the same name, the westernmost of Seenu (Addu). In terms of population count, Hithadhoo is home to the largest population in Addu City.

The part of the island south of the town is lushly vegetated with palms and shrubs, whilst the northern end of the island consists of a partially stony, unreal scrubland, which can be explored only on narrow trails. Hithadhoo Town is marked by dusty roads, narrow lanes, leaning houses and dense vegetation. Island traffic is generally quite colourful, particularly when hundreds of island school children dressed in a multitude of differently coloured school uniforms are queueing up for the bus.

Population

Hithadhoo has a population of some 18,000 residents. The local dialect of Dhivehi, Addu bas, is spoken by most of the people who live here. Addu Bas is closely related to dialects spoken on nearby atolls. It is also the second most spoken dialect in the whole Maldives.

Hithadhoo has a number of educational institutions; two kindergartens (nursery schools), three primary and two secondary schools as well as a Maldives National University Campus. Most Hithadhoo residents complete their education up to Ordinary Level and Advanced level on the island itself, whilst a few opt to continue their studies in Malé or abroad. A certain number of youngsters from neighbouring islands, mainly from Maradhoo, Maradhoo-Feydhoo, and Feydhoo attend Muhibbuddin School,a secondary school on Hithaadhoo, to complete their O-level studies. Several students from other atolls like Fuvahmulah and Huvadhu Atoll also attend secondary schools on Hithadhoo in order to have a better education than can be had on their home islands.

Healthcare

The government has provided the residents with a hospital. This hospital has a regional function and provides around-the-clock care. Most residents of neighbouring islands visit Hithadhoo Regional Hospital to receive treatment for their ailments. People from atolls and islands further afield, such as Fuvammulah and Huvadhu Atoll also occasionally visit to receive medical treatment, although most opt for hospitals in the Southern Indian state of Kerala which is relatively close by. Apart from this, there are some private clinics like Eye Care Clinic and IMDC (International Medical and Diagnostic Center).

Gan Island

Gan (Div: ގަން) is the southernmost island of Addu Atoll, as well as the southernmost island of the Maldives. It is relatively large by Maldive standards.

Gan Island is the second largest island of the atoll, after Hithadhoo, and measures 2.2561 square kilometres (0.87 sq mi) in area. Gan Island was formerly inhabited, but its inhabitants were moved to neighboring islands after the British naval and airbase was built. It has been the site of continuous human habitation since very ancient times. There were large cultivated fields of yams, manioc, and coconut trees on this island. The origin of the word "Gan" is a component of the Sanskrit word "Grama", meaning "village" — a fact verified by linguist Dr. Robert C. Hennings at the international institute of Sydney.

Gan Island now boasts a hotel catering to tourists, and is connected by causeways to the neighboring islands of Feydu, Maradu, and Hithadhoo. In 1922, H. C. P. Bell visited this island and investigated the ancient Buddhist ruins there. These included the foundations of a temple (vihara) and a mound or low hill which was a very ruined stupa. Gan's ruins were the remains of the southernmost Buddhist site of the Maldives. The mound, as well as the foundations of the nearby vihara, disappeared after the airport was built. The first airport of the Maldives was built on Gan.

Demographics

The Maldivian ethnic identity is a blend of cultures, reflecting the peoples who settled on the islands, reinforced by religion and language. The earliest settlers were probably from southern India, Arabia, and southeast Asia. There is a huge influence of South, South West African and Asian cultures in the Maldives. As of 2010, population of Addu City was estimated to be around 35,000.

Linguistics

The dialect spoken in this atoll (Addu bas) is quite different from the official form of the Dhivehi language. It has some affinities with the language of Fua Mulaku Mulaku bas.

Traditionally all educated islanders from the three different atolls of the south adopted the Addu language as lingua franca. Hence, when for example an islander of Huvadhu met with another from Fua Mulaku, they would use the Addu bas to talk to each other. Addu bas is the most widespread and famous dialect in the southern region of Maldives.

The secessionist government of the United Suvadive Republic (Suvadives) however, used the Male' language in its official correspondence.

Culture & Significance

Addu society, as in all other parts of Maldives, was distinguished by strong social divisions. Traditionally, the upper classes—with names like Don Seedi, Don Kaloa, Fulhu, Manik, and Didi—were close friends and relatives of the sultan and his royal family. Yet, even among these families, there were marked differences. Well into the 20th century, Bell[who?] noted that "a Didi marrying a Maniku lady raises her to his own rank; but the children of a Maniku father and Didi mother are, strictly speaking, not entitled to the appellation Didi".

Years ago, it was unacceptable to eat with a member of an inferior class, and people of a lower class mixing with a superior only sat on a low stool. Now these distinctions are not acceptable in the society. Indeed, nowadays the terms Maniku and Didi are sometimes used as nicknames. Today, advancement is based more on merit than birth.

The number of islands a person leases, or the number of boats they own, was also crucial to their social standing during the sultanates' era. The boat owner took about half the day's catch, while the skipper (keyolhu) earned about one-fifth. The rest was divided equally among the fishermen. The men who make the boats (Maavadi meehaa) were respected craftsmen; the fishermen's lives, and thus the well-being of the community, depended upon their skill. The medicine men (Hakeem) stood on the same social rung. Skilled tradesmen, like blacksmiths and jewelers, also commanded a great deal of respect. At the bottom of the social heap was the toddy-tapper (Raaveria) who looked after the coconuts and tapped sap for toddy and syrup. ^{[citation needed]}

The sharp division of labor not only reflects the exigencies of island life, but the injunctions of traditional Islam. Yet despite the clear divisions between rich and poor, there was no poverty. The island community and the extended family act as a safety net for its members. No one sleeps in the streets, or goes to bed hungry. In this sense, being a small atoll in a small nation has its blessings, for every one knows each other and is willing to lend a hand. Alms-giving remains one of the fundamental tenets of Islam, and so in the vatoll society.

The people of the Addu City are unique in the Maldives, not only because they speak in an entirely different language, but also because of the educational and intellectual background they derived from their ancestors. It is a small, kindred society unified by a common history, the language, and the Islamic faith.

Adduans have been able to blend tradition and modernity. All Adduans have open access to primary and secondary education. Adduans also play a significant role in the economic life of the Maldives, which is mainly based on the capital island of Malé.

Adduans are a friendly, hospitable and peace loving people, at the same time reserved and in control of their emotions.In Addu old customs and Islamic traditions are respected, while allowing the necessary changes in lifestyle to be compatible with modern development.

The Adduans are dedicated to improving the life of the people on the islands of Addu City. Young people are encouraged to strive for higher education, when they finish the secondary education in the atoll they are sent to Malé or overseas for higher studies, and to make them professionals in their desired fields. They return to the Maldives to give service to the country. Many of them are compelled to stay in Malé due to lack of job opportunities in their homeland.

White Tern

The White Tern (Gygis alba) locally know as Dhondheeni(ދޮންދީނި), sometimes called as Kandhuvalu dhooni is a small seabird traditionally only confined to the Addu Atoll, the southern uttermost atoll in the Maldives.

The White Tern is one of the most beautiful and interesting resident bird found in the Maldives. It has got all body white with black eye-ring and black bill with blue at the base. Legs and feet are also blue, with yellow to webs. In recent decades white tern has been proudly used as a symbol by the people of Addu Atoll to represent their atoll in the Maldives.

Feeding Habits

The White Tern primarily feed on smaller fish which it catches by plunge diving down on the surface, but it does not submerge fully. It is a long-lived bird, having been recorded living for 18 years.

Breeding

This small sea bird is well known for laying a single speckled egg on exposed thin branches in a small joint or depression without a nest. The thin branches it chooses is act of predator-avoidance behavior, crows (Corvus splendens maledivicus) and even rats avoid sitting or climbing small branches. However, terns are vulnerable to strong winds and the chicks have sophisticated sharp clawed feet to cling on fragile branches.

Addu Kandu

This is the local name for the broad channel between Huvadu Atoll and Addu Atoll. The old French maps called it 'Courant d'Addoue'.

Tourism

This is the 'second city' of the Maldives, and the resorts here is the best base from which to visit traditional Maldivian island communities. The Addu people are fiercely independent, speak differently from folk in the capital and at one time even tried to secede from the republic.

The biggest influence on Addu's modern history has been the British bases, first established on the island of Gan during WWII, as part of the Indian Ocean defences. In 1956, the British developed a Royal Air Force airfield as a strategic Cold War outpost. The station had around 600 permanent personnel, with up to 3000 during periods of peak activity. They built a causeway connecting Feydhoo, Maradhoo and Hithadhoo islands, and employed most of the local men. In 1976 the British pulled out, but many of their employees, who spoke good English and had experience working for westerners, were well qualified for jobs in the soon-to-be-booming tourist industry.

Tourist development in Addu itself has been slow to start, but a resort has been established in the old RAF buildings on Gan and there are now reliable connections to the capital via Maldivan, Mega Maldives and Flyme. The Ocean Reef Resort is not a typical Maldives tropical paradise resort island, but the old military base is a unique feature. Gan is linked by causeways to the adjacent islands, and it's easy and pleasant to get around them by bicycle, giving unmatched opportunities to visit the local villages and see village life. There are two island resorts in Addu City. Shangril'as Vilingili resort and Amari Addu. Hankede has been proposed for a new city hotel.

Tourism development at Addu City, after the presidential elections in 2008 there is a free opportunity to invest in the tourism industry.

The fourth president of Maldives “Mohamed Nasheed” gives the possibility for the Addu citizens, foreign investors to start at "local" Islands guesthouses, hotels, resorts, dive,- & watersport centers and other tourism related companies at Addu City.

Addu city will be a “non typical” Maldivian tourist place where tourists can spend their time in a local environment and can explore the Maldivian way of living. The first guesthouse “Stellar Maradhoo” start their opening in 2013, also the first Diving Center “Aquaventure” 1 and the first international tourists "Dive Center Time to Dive from Belgium" 2 those got accommodated at a local island arrived in May 2013, Maradhoo.

Addu City "local Islands" is open for tourism and there are new tourism investment projects going on, to develops "local" Addu City in a new holiday destination in the Maldives.

Gan International Airport will be open in 2013 for International flights.

Events

17th SAARC Summit 2011

The 17th SAARC summit was hosted by Addu City and neighboring Fuvahmulah in November 2011. The preparations for the summit brought numerous developments to the city, including the building of a convention centre, development of roads and public places, renovation of Gan International Airport and the regional hospital, more job opportunities among many others.

Equatorial Convention Centre

Equatorial Convention Centre (ECC) is a convention centre which is located in Hithadhoo, Addu City of Maldives. It was specially build for the seventeenth SAARC summit which was held in November 2011 in Addu City and nearby Fuvahmulah island.[1] ECC was formally opened by the President of the Maldives H.E Mohamed Nasheed on 10 November 2011.

Halls and Rooms

The names of the halls and rooms in the convention centre have been named after historical and cultural places and aspects of Addu and the atolls of the Maldives with the main convention hall called 'Bodu Kiba'.[3]

The public lobby has been named ‘Addu Thalhanmathi’ with ‘Velaanaa Fendaa’, ‘Eggamu Fendaa’, ‘Kakaa Fendaa’ and ‘Athiree Fendaa’ declared as names for the rooms of the convention centre. ‘Rasruku Kibaa’ is the name of the main banquet hall.[3]

The two-storey convention centre, which has been built for the SAARC Summit with an Rf150 million budget, has an administrative office named ‘Mulee Kotari’, a Business Centre called ‘Badikoshee Kotari’ and a Meeting Room named ‘Dhandikoshee’.[3]

The delegation offices have been named after the atolls of the Maldives; ‘Thiladhunmathi Kotari’, Faadhippolhu Kotari’, ‘Ihavandhippolhu Kotari’, ‘Hadhunmathi Kotari’, ‘Huvadhoo Kotari’, ‘Kolhumadulu Kotari’, ‘Nilandhe Kotari’ and ‘Maalhosmadulu Kotari’.[3]

Rooms located on the first floor include the ‘Dhondhanbu Kibaa’ and ‘Jaafaanu Kibaa’ Function Rooms. The Seminar Rooms located on the first floor have been named as ‘Mas’udi Kotari’, ‘Pyrad Kotari’, ‘Abu’l Barakat Kotari’, ‘Batuta Kotari’, ‘Kalhuoh Fummi Kotari’, ‘Thirnaa Kotari, ‘Jaliyaa Kotari’ and ‘Kalhihaara Kotari’.

Transportation

Addu Linkroad

The 14-kilometre (8.7 mi) Addu Link Road causeway is the longest paved causeway in the Maldives. It joins Hithadhoo, Maradhoo, Maradhoo-feydhoo, Feydhoo, and Gan.

The Addu Link Road was the site of the longest banner ever to be displayed in the Maldives.

Since its construction, a number of fatal accidents have occurred on the Addu Link Road, which local news sources have ascribed to high speeds and reckless driving. Addu City is connected via ferry from Hulhumeedhoo ward to Feydhoo.

Gan International Airport

Gan International Airport is the airport serving Addu City, located on the island of Gan nearby. First built by the British Royal Navy, and transferred to the Royal Air Force as RAF Gan, the Gan International Airport was originally a military airbase built during World War II and commissioned until the 1970s. The United Kingdom transferred ownership to the government of the Maldives, and it was converted for use as a domestic airport. Recently the airport was upgraded to international standards in preparation for international flights expected with the opening of tourist resorts in the area. The airport was privatised under a 30-year contract signed in June 2010. A new VVIP lounge also has been build for the SAARC summit.

References

External links

Category:Populated places in the Maldives Category:Addu Atoll