Dhivehi is the national language of the Maldives, declared in Article 11 of its Constitution

Background

A release of the President's Office of the Maldives records the ratification of the National Language (Priority) Bill passed by the People's Majlis, the country's legislature, and its publication in the Government Gazette. The release states that the Act aims to protect, develop, preserve and promote the use of the national language, Dhivehi, as declared in the Article 11 of the Constitution. It adds that the Act stipulates that all state communications and correspondences should be in Dhivehi, while not restricting the use of other languages in communicating with people who do not speak Dhivehi. The Act also states that the President should establish a Dhivehi Language Academy and appoint members to the Academy within 90 days of the commencement of the Act.