Dhivehi Academy Urges Institutions to Prioritize National Language on Public Signage

The Dhivehi Language Academy has called upon all institutions, organizations, and offices across the Maldives to strictly adhere to the law mandating priority for the national language. In a recent statement, the Academy emphasized that the Maldivian Constitution requires all entities operating within the country to give primary importance to Dhivehi. A key focus of this mandate is the visibility of the national language on name boards and public signage. Under current legislation, every signboard installed in public view on inhabited islands must display the name of the establishment in Thaana script. The law specifies that the text must be presented in a manner that ensures it is easily readable to the general public. The Academy stressed that this requirement is not optional, but mandatory for all parties. While the Academy noted that laws have been clearly established to preserve linguistic identity, it highlighted a concerning trend of non-compliance. Some organizations have reportedly failed to follow the prescribed legal standards for public signage, undermining the spirit of the national constitution. By urging a return to legal compliance, the Dhivehi Language Academy aims to ensure that the national language remains central to the Maldives' public landscape and institutional identity. The Academy reiterated that following the Law on Giving Priority to the National Language is imperative for all parties operating within the archipelago.