President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed presided over this year’s national literary and calligraphy awards ceremony, an event hosted by the Dhivehi Bahuge Academy to celebrate outstanding achievements in Dhivehi language arts. Held at the S’alaah’udhdheen School hall, the ceremony drew a nationwide turnout with more than 3,000 participants competing across five major disciplines.
The academy organised contests in essay writing, short stories, poetry, oratory and handwriting, with organisers noting especially strong participation in the essay and short story categories, which together accounted for over 2,000 entries. Students from both lower and higher secondary levels took part, along with adults and several private organisations, highlighting the broad national engagement with Dhivehi literary arts.
Among the institutions recognised for excellence were the Centre for Higher Secondary Education (CHSE) and Jamaluddin School, both securing multiple awards across different academic divisions. Individual winners were also honoured in long-running memorial competitions dedicated to prominent literary figures, including the 40th National Essay Writing Competition held in memory of Mohamed Jameel Didi and the 38th National Oratory Competition commemorating Ibrahim Shihab.
Awards were presented by Minister of Dhivehi Language, Culture and Heritage Adam Naseer Ibrahim, alongside senior language scholars. Officials said the strong response to this year’s competitions reflects a growing national commitment to cultivating Dhivehi language proficiency, creative writing and cultural preservation.
