Government Greenlights Private Parties To Name Reclaimed Land

The Government of Maldives has announced a new policy that allows private parties to name geographical locations that they have reclaimed. Under this policy, the Maldives Land & Survey Authority (MLSA) will be accepting requests to provide names to or rename geographical locations.

The Government stated that the aim of formulating this policy is to standardize the procedure of naming geographical locations in the Maldives. The policy instructs on the process, urging private entities to officially name or rename locations based on commonly used names. Additionally, the policy encourages individuals to give names to locations by highlighting the rich Maldivian history and culture as well as the unique features of the location.

With this policy, MLSA is asked to process requests on naming and re-naming geographical locations within 15 days. The authority is given the right to repeal names of locations if a previous entry already exists and is registered. Requests to name location can be applied via a designated form through the concerning government institution or ministry. However, naming can also be done for locations reclaimed by the respective private party.