Maldives’s historic Friday Mosque opens for public after having been closed for nearly a year for renovation work. India’s Archeological Survey of India (ASI) provided technical assistance to tackle infestation of termites in the 3rd century historical structure.

The mosque had to be closed last year due to termite problem in the old structure, making it unsafe for people to offer prayer there. The last prayer was observed on 19 September 2019.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi,  on his last trip to the country, offered assistance for renovation of the culturally and historically important mosque. The ASI, with the help of the National Center for Cultural Heritage of the Maldives, took the task of renovation and completed it despite facing the COVID-19 challenge.

Maldives’s state minister Mohammad Thoriq blamed the actions of the previous administration that led to the infestation of termites.

Earlier the government’s Ministry of Art, Culture and Heritage said efforts are being made to get the tag of UNESCO’s world heritage site for the mosque, which is currently in the list of temporary world cultural heritage sites. 

Locals in the neighbourhood expressed the satisfaction and happiness over the re-opening of the historic mosque where they missed the prayers for almost a year. Intricate artwork and design on stones of the heritage structure never failed to amaze its visitors.  

https://en.sun.mv/63223