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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON,

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From among the said Sultans, Sultan Gházi Muhammad Thakurfanu the Great Sri Sava Ditta Malia Radun and our ancestor Sultan Gházi Hassan Izzuddeen son of Vazier Muhammad Famuladéri Manikufánu Sri Kula Ranna Míba Kasthri Bawana Maha Radun, who founded the Hura Dynasty, and whose honesty of purpose, chivalry, religious fervour, and nobility of character are well known to the people of this Kingdom whom we owe inestimable praise and prayers.

The liberation of this Kingdom from the innumerable misfortunes affecting the preservation of independence and the Islamic Religion is due to the said two Rulers. No further misfortunes have beset this Kingdom since its conversion to the Faith of Islam and we pray that no misfortunes of any kind may ever beset this Kingdom in the future. Amin.

Is it not a great blessing that this Kingdom should be of the Islamic Faith? Surely so, for no other religion is as liberal and just whether it be for this world or the world

to come.

Is it not a great blessing to remain an independent Kingdom?

People of other nations are sacrificing their valuable lives in order to secure this freedom which is ours.

Those two blessings on remaining independent and in the Islamic Faith we have enjoyed for generations past. Try and preserve them with all your might!

Try and preserve them with all your might! Try and preserve them with all your might! We and all of you should be one in preserving these two assets before the Divine Justice of God, for we also in reality are one of you.

By the homage you have paid and the love and esteem you have shown to our person, and to Sultan Ghazi Hassan Izzuddeen Maha Radun, who liberated this Kingdom from the foreign yoke for the last time, and for placing us on this throne we are indebted to you. We are reigning for the last 32 years willingly. We have no special quality which entitled us to reign on this throne, but we owe it purely to the right of succession. No other duty falls to our lot except to command that good works may be performed for the uplifting of the people of this Kingdom. and obedience to that command and to those officers whom we appoint to command is your duty.. If we or those officers whom we appoint to command do anything contrary to religion, obedience is not compulsory. If we or those whom we appoint are found guilty of an offence affecting our religion or this Kingdom, it is your duty to correct such offenders, for, God has enjoined " Obey Allah, His Prophet and those who are in authority." The Prophet who conveyed to us this revelation also said “Do not obey the orders of those who command against the laws of God." Obedience should follow commands based on justice. The Prophet further said "All of you have responsibilities but those responsibilities are subject to criticism." That is the law of Islam. The foundation of that religion is to live in peace and amity, giving mutual help, assisting in good works, respecting others, living in brotherly love and equality in justice. Those ancient Rulers of this Kingdom had always governed this Kingdom with the consent and approval of its subjects in all the important matters of State..

There was always a Council to advise on matters of State, surely it proves that in all these centuries past we have reigned and maintained our independence as a result of good government by those past Rulers. Of such Rulers, Sultan Ghazi Ibrahim Iskander of Utimu Dynasty was praised for introducing laws and customs for the good govern- ment of the people of this Kingdom.

In drafting the present Constitution we had to consult those laws and customs which he had introduced. We too ruled this Kingdom after our accession with the assistance of the best officers in the land and we have no doubt that they carried on the Government with your approval. We thank God for any good we have done in the years past. We desire that if we have committed any offence you will forgive us on this great day.

We have now decided to govern this Kingdom by promulgating a Constitution with written laws providing for the appointment of Ministers to the various Departments with the consent of the Ryots in accordance with Constitutional Law and this Quoranic injunction Amongst the Muslims, affairs of the State must be carried out in consulta- tion."

You have been informed of these our decisions before. The draft Constitution which had been previously announced we now command should form the basis for the Government of this Kingdom (We command that the Constitution which we have pro- mulgated to-day shall be law and that this Kingdom shall in future he governed in accordance therewith.)

In terms of the said Constitution we confirm the appointment of twenty-eight mem- bers who shall for a period of five years from to-day make laws and deliberate on afl

39

matters affecting the Government of this Kingdom. The said twenty-eight members are as follows:-

1

Mr. Ibrahim Didi, son of the late Haji Ali Didi, for the Constituency of Tiladummati Atol.

2. Mr. Sheik Ibrahim Rushdi of Azliar for the Constituency of Miladummadulu,

Atol North.

3.

Mr. Muhammad Didi, son of Amir Moosa Mafai Kilégéfánu, for the Con- stituency of Miladummadulu, Atol South.

4. Mr. Ibrahim Didi, son of Amir Hassan Famuladéri Kilégéfánu, for the Con-

stituency of Malosmadulu, Atol North.

5.

Sayed Hussein La Sidi for the Constituency of Malosmadulu, Atol South.

6.

Mr. A. Muhammad Didi for the Constituency of Fadiffolu Atol.

7. Sayed Abdulla Halim for Malé Atol.

8.

Mr. Ali Didi, son of Mr. Abdul Majid Didi, for the Constituency of Ari Atol.

9.

Mr. I. Moosa Didi for the Constituency of Felide Atol.

10. Mr. M. Ibrahim Didi, son of A. Ahmad Didi, for the Constituency of Mulaku

Atol.

Amir Tutu Maniffulu of Kakaige for the Constituency of Nilande, Atol North.

11.

12

Mr. M. Ebrahim Didi of Welánáge for the Constituency of Nilande, Atol South.

13.

Mr. I. Muhammad Didi for the Constituency of Kolumadulu Atol

14. Mr. Validugé Ibrahim Didi of Azhar for the Constituency of Hadummati

Atol.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

Mr. Kanzudorugé Abdul Majid Didi for the Constituency of Huwadu Atol. Mr. Abdulla Didi, son of the late Mulige Tuttu Didi, for the Constituency of Fua Mulaku.

Mr. Muhammad Sayid Diri of Azhar for the Constituency of Addu Atol.

Mr. Ahmad Kamil Didi for the Hanveru Ward of Málé.

Mr. Naibu Abdulla Kamaluddeen for the Mafannu Ward of Malé.

20. Sayed Abdulla Tutu Sidi for Machchangoli Ward of Malé.

21. Mr. A. Hussein Didi for Galolu Ward of Malé.

The above are twenty-one" Elected members of the Legislative Council. The

other seven members who have been nominated by us are as follows:-

1.

Amir Muhammad Farid Maniffulu.

2. Amir Hassan Farid Maniffulu.

3. Amir Ali Rasgéfánugaduvaru Maniffulu

4. Númarágaduvaru Tuttu Maniffulu.

5.

Mr. Kaluhurágé Dori Sidi.

6.

Mr. Hussein Salahuddeen.

7. Mr. Muhammad Amín Didi.

From

among the above twenty-eight members we have nominated as the head of

the Government Amir Muhammad Farid Didi, son of Amir Hadji Abdul Majid Didi Ranna Badéri Kilégéfánu, under whose guidance six Ministers have been selected out of the said twenty-eight members to administer the twelve Departments provided in the Con- stitution.

Those nominated by him by our command are as follows:-

1, Amir Hassan Farid Maniffulu to be the Minister of Finance and of Foreign

Affairs.

Mr. Ahmad Kamil Didi to be the Minister of Home Affairs and of Education.

2.

Mr. Hussein Salahuddeen at one time Chief Justice of the High Court to be

the Minister of Justice.

3.

4.

Mr. Muhammad Didi, son of the late Amir Ali Dhori Ména Kilégéfánu, to be

the Minister of Public Works and of Agriculture.

5.

6.

Mr. Muhammad Amín Didi, son of Amir Dhori Ména Kilégéfánu, to be the

Minister of Commerce.

Mr. Ebrahim Didi, son of the late Ali Didi, to be the Minister of Health and

of Public Endowments.

We shall hereafter summon once every year a People's Assembly for the purpose

of advising and criticizing the administration of the two Majilises (Councils of the Ministers and the Legislature). The said People's Assembly shall constitute four mem- bers from each of the large Atols and two from each of the small Atols and they shall be elected by the people of such Atols. At the end of five years the People's Assembly

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