Embassy of The Maldives, Japan.

Following the sad demise of former President Ibrahim Nasir, a Book of Condolences will be kept open at the Embassy of the Maldives in Tokyo, 8th Floor, Iikura Mint Building, 1-9-10 Azabudai, Minato-Ku, Tokyo, on the dates and times given below.

Friday,   28^th November 2008               10 a. m. to 12 p. m. and 2 p. m. to  4 p. m.
Monday,  1^st December 2008               10 a. m. to 12 p. m. and 2 p. m. to  4 p. m.
Tuesday, 2^nd December 2008               10 a. m. to 12 p. m.

Condolences may be emailed to admin@maldivesembassy.jp or faxed to  03-6234-4316 at the Embassy of Maldives in Tokyo.

Former President Ibrahim Nasir has passed away at the age of 82 in Singapore on Saturday, 22nd November 2008 after a prolonged illness.

Late President Nasir was the first President of the 2nd Republic declared on 11th November 1968. He completed two 5-year terms as President before resigning in November 1978.

Following the sad demise of the former President, the Government of Maldives has declared 23rd November 2008 a national holiday. The Maldivian national flag will be flown at half mast for 7 days as the country mourns the death of its former leader who laid the foundations for the modernisation of the Maldives.

President Nasir’s body has been flown to Male’ where he is expected to be laid to rest late evening on Sunday.

President Mohamed Nasheed has appointed Dr. Ahmed Shaheed to the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs. Dr. Shaheed held the same post under President Gayoom for about two years starting in July 2005.

President Nasheed has also appointed Mr. Ahmed Naseem to the post of Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

The appointments were made on the 12th and the 13th of November 2008 respectively.

11 November 2008

Mr. Mohamed Nasheed, the winner of the run-off Presidential election held on 28th October 2008, was sworn in as the 4th President of the Republic today at a special sitting of the People’s Majlis (the Parliament). His running mate Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Maniku was sworn in as the Vice President of the country at the same ceremony.

President Nasheed is the leader of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) which led the coalition against President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the leader of the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP). Mr Gayoom was elected President in 1978 and had, since then, won 6 successive terms as President.

The change of leadership marks the beginning of a new and democratic era in the country’s history since the declaration of the 2nd Republic in 1968.

President Nasheed is the winner of the first ever multi-party election in the Maldives and is widely seen as one of the key figures in the switch to democracy. His cabinet is expected to be sworn in soon.