 Prime Minister Ibrahim Nasir signs independence agreement with the British | |
| Signed | July 26, 1965 |
|---|---|
| Location | Westminster House, Colombo, Ceylon |
| Ratified | July 26, 1965 |
| Signatories | |
| Language | English |
The Republic of Maldives gained its independence from the United Kingdom, under an agreement signed with United Kingdom on July 26, 1965, after 78 years as a British protectorate.
In accordance with the broader British policy of decolonization, an agreement was formalized on 26 July 1965 on Ceylon. The agreement was signed by Ibrahim Nasir Rannabandeyri Kilegefan, Prime Minister of the Maldive Islands, representing the King of the Maldives, and Sir Michael Walker, British Ambassador designate to the Maldive Islands, representing Queen Elizabeth II. This marked the conclusion of British responsibility for the defense and external affairs of the Maldives. With this agreement, the islands attained complete political independence. The ceremony took place at the British High Commissioner's Residence in Colombo.
The British expelled the Dutch from Ceylon and included the Maldives as a nominal British protectorate in 1796.[1] During the reign of Queen Victoria in 1887, the Maldivian king, Muhammad Mueenuddeen II officially accepted British protectorate in the Maldives.[1][2] While the Maldives was a British protectorate, the Maldivian king's powers were taken over by the chief minister and the prime minister.
- ^ a b Ryavec 1995, p. 259.
- ^ Tan, Kevin; Hoque, Ridwanul (2021). Constitutional Foundings in South Asia. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 202. ISBN 978-1509930272.