Legendry Maldivian referee Malla Lhathuthu dies

Legendary Maldivian football referee and longtime public servant, Malla Lhathuthu died on Thursday, after a long illness.

Sun has been informed that Malla Lhathuthu died in India’s Trivandrum, after a long battle with a serious illness.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has conveyed condolences to the bereaved family.

In a post on X, President Muizzu described Malla Lhathuthu’s death as “an irrevocable loss for the Maldivian sports sector.”

إِنَّا لِلَّٰهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ

ކުޅިވަރު ކުރިއެރުވުމުގައި ބައި ޤަރުނަށްވުރެ ގިނަދުވަހު ޤައުމަށް ޚިދުމަތްކޮށްދެއްވާފައިވާ މަޝްހޫރު ފުޓްބޯޅަ ރެފްރީ މައްލާ ޅަތުއްތު ނިޔާވުމަކީ، ދިވެހި ކުޅިވަރުގެ ދާއިރާއަށް ފޫނުބެއްދޭނެ ބޮޑު އުނިކަމެކެވެ.

ކުޅިވަރު ކުރިއެރުވުމުގެ… pic.twitter.com/YmJyNcb2oJ

— Dr Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) August 15, 2024

Malla Lhathuthu had retired on April 20, 2010, after over 43 years of service to the state.

Malla Lhathuthu had been a legendry football referee, contributing to the development of the country’s sports sector for over 52 years.

 He received the National Award of Recognition for his contributions to the development of sports sector in 1990, the National Award of Honor in 2021, and the National Award for Public Service in 2022.

Malla Lhathuthu joined public service in 1964, at the age of 16, as a soldier. He later worked as a secretary at Home Affairs’ Registration Division, and later the Sports Division.

He also worked for around 16 years at the State Trading Organization (STO), working his way up from being a secretary to an assistant director.

Malla Lhathuthu also worked at the Construction Ministry, the Finance Ministry, the Secretariat of the Parliament – where he was the director general when he retired.