PSM Reveals Top Nominees for Chaalu Dhivehi Raajje National Island Awards

Public Service Media (PSM) has announced the top five nominees across six categories for the ‘Chaalu Dhivehi Raajje Award,’ a national competition celebrating environmental stewardship and community excellence across the Maldives. The initiative recognizes local islands that demonstrate exceptional commitment to cultural preservation, sustainable development, and environmental protection. By showcasing these achievements, the awards aim to foster civic pride and promote community-based tourism by highlighting the unique strengths of various atolls. During the announcement ceremony, PSM Managing Director Ahmed Shakeeb emphasized that the program looks beyond the natural beauty of the Maldives' coastlines. He stated that the awards are designed to amplify the stories and tangible achievements of the local communities residing on these islands. Competition for the awards was significant, with 50 islands applying initially. From this pool, 14 islands representing 11 different atolls have advanced to the second round. In this next phase, a panel of judges will visit the nominated islands to assess and grade the community-led projects and initiatives firsthand. The six categories of recognition include the Most Beautiful Beach, Most Responsible Island in Local Tourism, Cleanest and Most Environmentally Friendly Island, Innovative Thinking in Sustainable Development, Friendliest Community, and Most Pleasant Island Destination. Islands such as AA Ukulhas and AA Mathiveri appear as strong contenders, featuring in multiple shortlisted categories. The final winners will be decided through a hybrid scoring system: 60 percent of the result will be determined by the judges' professional assessments, while 40 percent will be decided by public voting. PSM has announced that public voting will open shortly, with the final awards ceremony scheduled to take place before the end of 2026.