President Dr Mohamed Muizzu visited the China-Maldives Everlasting Friendship Park on Sunday as the country marked eight years since the opening of the Sinamalé Bridge, one of the largest infrastructure projects undertaken in the Maldives.
The President inspected the bridge area during his visit in the morning and viewed a collection of photographs at the park documenting different stages of the bridge’s construction and its eventual inauguration.
He was received at the site by Minister of Housing, Land and Urban Development Dr Abdulla Muththalib, Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam and Chinese Ambassador to the Maldives Kong Xianhua.
The Sinamalé Bridge, also known as the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge, was officially opened on August 30, 2018, during the administration of former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.
President Muizzu played a central role in overseeing the project at the time as Housing Minister. Construction was completed around two months ahead of its scheduled completion date, with the project delivered within its allocated budget and required quality standards.
The 1.4-kilometre bridge created the first permanent road connection between Malé and Hulhulé, where Velana International Airport is located. Together with the adjoining highway network, it also established a direct road link between Malé, Hulhulé and Hulhumalé.
The connection significantly changed movement within the Greater Malé region, allowing people to travel between the capital, airport island and Hulhumalé by road rather than relying exclusively on sea transport.
The bridge was built at an estimated cost of USD 200 million. China provided USD 116 million as grant assistance and a further USD 72 million through a concessional loan, while the Maldivian government contributed USD 12 million towards the project.
Construction and completion of the bridge took approximately three years and 11 months.
In a post on X marking the anniversary, President Muizzu described the Sinamalé Bridge as a representation of the shared aspirations and friendship between the Maldives and China.
He said that eight years after its opening, the bridge linking Malé, Hulhulé and Hulhumalé continues to stand as an enduring symbol of the relationship between the two countries.
The project remains one of the most visible examples of Chinese involvement in major Maldivian infrastructure development and was a landmark undertaking during the Yameen administration.
Its completion was followed by further expansion of the Greater Malé road network and development in Hulhumalé, while subsequent administrations have pursued additional transport links aimed at improving connectivity across the capital region.
