The National Center for Cultural Heritage has assured that no Buddhist sites are being restored under the conservation and restoration grant provided by India.
The conservation and restoration of the Friday Mosque are being undertaken with the technical and financial assistance of the Indian government. India will provide a grant of USD 1.5 million or MVR 23 million for the project. The project was undertaken by the Government of India when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Male in June 2019.
A statement issued by the center on Saturday said that while it has been reported that sites showing the Maldives' Buddhist links are being restored under an Indian grant, such false information would create discord and religious conflict among Maldivians. The center condemned such actions attempting to misuse Maldivian nationalism and the love for religion for political gain and called to stop such activities.
The center provided details on the restoration projects pursued under the Indian grant. In this regard, restoration works will be carried out at the Friday Mosque in Male' City and the historical Dhiyamigili Ganduvaru monument in Th. Dhiyamigili, the center said. Furthermore, a heritage park would be developed with a museum in N. Landhoo Maabadhige area, they added.
The statement noted that the Friday Mosque in Male' City symbolizes the Maldivian history, artistry, workmanship, and religious inclination. As such, efforts have been undertaken throughout the years to conserve the site, it read. In this regard, an extensive restoration project was carried out at the mosque from 1987 to 1988 with India's assistance. The mosque's current restoration and conservation project is being carried out under an MVR 23 million grant from India, it further said.
The statement also noted that restoration work was carried out at the Old Friday Mosque in ADH. Fenfushi in 2001 under India assistance and restoration works of Dharumavantha Mosque in Male' City later in 2004.
Pictures of a pre-Islamic Buddhist site in N. Landhoo are being circulated by some media, claiming that India was assisting in restoring the site. Referring to the reports, the Heritage Center said the planned project for the site was the development of a museum and heritage park and that the Maldivian government proposed the project. The government received MVR 4 million for the project from the Indian government, the statement further read.
