Hirimaradhoo residents, who asked to be relocated to Thulusdhoo, being moved to Hanimaadhoo instead

The government has decided to relocate the residents of HDh. Hirimaradhoo – who petitioned the government to migrate to K. Thulusdhoo – to HDh. Hanimaadhoo instead.

In a meeting with Local Government Minister Adam Shareef Umar on September 9, 2024, members of the Hirimaradhoo Council said that the residents of the island wish to migrate to K. Thulusdhoo, an island that lies close to the capital, Male’ City.

In a post on X on Saturday afternoon, Heena Waleed, the chief spokesperson at the President’s Office, announced that the government has decided to relocate the residents of Hirimaradhoo to Hanimaadhoo.

“As requested by the people of HDh. Hirimaradhoo, the government has decided to relocate them to HDh. Hanimaadhoo,” announced Heena.

ހދ. ހިރިމަރަދޫ ރައްޔިތުން އެދިވަޑައިގަތްގޮތަށް، އެރަށު ރައްޔިތުން ހދ. ހަނިމާދޫއަށް ބަދަލުކުރުމަށް ސަރުކާރުން ނިންމަވައިފި.

— Heena Waleed (@MvSpokesperson) February 1, 2025

She did not provide any details.

Back in September, Mohamed Waheed, the president of the Hirimaradhoo Council, told Sun that the island’s residents wished to migrate to an island closer to the capital, Male’ City.

He said that they settled on Thulusdhoo due to its close proximity to Male’ City and because the island has plenty of land.

Waheed said that the council has also communicated the request to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, who provided assurance that they will be allowed to migrate to Thulusdhoo.

Hirimaradhoo has a registered population of 589 residents. However, more than half of the population reside in other islands, most of them in the capital.

Meanwhile, Hanimaadhoo, one of the largest islands in the Maldives, has a population of 2,645 people.