Velidhoo (Noonu Atoll)

Velidhoo
Inhabited island
Velidhoo
Velidhoo Location in Maldives
Coordinates: 05°39′45″N 73°16′24″E / 5.66250°N 73.27333°E / 5.66250; 73.27333
Country	Maldives
Geographic atoll	Miladhummadulhu Atoll
Administrative atoll	Southern Miladhunmadulu
Distance to Malé	166.52 km (103.47 mi)
Dimensions
• Length	1.19 km (0.74 mi)
• Width	0.71 km (0.44 mi)
Population  (2022)[1]
• Total	2,682
Time zone	UTC+05:00 (MST)

N.Velidhoo (Dhivehi: ވެލިދޫ) is one of the inhabited islands of Noonu Atoll in the Maldives. Information from Maldives bureau of statistics^[2]

History

There exists little to no information, because of the poor understanding of the history behind the island. However it has been said that the first colonisers of this island were indians in the 5th century. This island has little to no historic landmarks, but there is one. It brings the island together, it is a tree called (Bodu Nikagas). The tree is over 300 years old and the oldest and the tallest tree in the island. This tree is located besides the island preschool (HINZ Preschool) and in the island's Volleyball court.

Demography

^[3] The islands population has started to grow rapidly.

Governance

Government Offices

This island has most government offices just like the capital island.

• The Secretariat of the Velidhoo Council
• Velidhoo Police Station
• Noonu Velidhoo Magistrate Court
• Noonu Atoll Education Centre
• Velidhoo Health Centre
• FENAKA Corporation - Velidhoo Branch
• Maldives Post - Noonu Velidhoo Branch
• Bank of Maldives - Velidhoo Branch
• Velidhoo Waste Management Centre

Island chiefs

Below is a list of people who have filled the post of island chief (dates are provided where known).

• Katheebu Kaleyge – Muththoshige Gasim Fulhu (late)^{[clarification needed]} – Muththosige
• Ibrahim Moosa Kaleyfaanu (Naibu dhonkokko) (late) – Seesange
• Hassan Kaleyfaanu (late) – Muththosige
• Easa Gasim (late) – Daylight
• Mohamed Gasim (late) – Ochidmaage
• Abdul Samed Adam Kaleyfanu – Lubomage (3 September 1977 – 7 April 1982)
• Mohamed Hassan (Magoodhu Mohamed Fulhu) (late) – Dorensyvila (31 March 1970)
• Mohamed Hassan (late)– Muththoshige (3 June 1964 – 9 July 1977)
• Mohamed Abubakur (late) – Hilihilage (19 June 1982 – 31 July 1989)
• Ahmed Waheed (late) (Tholhendhu Waheed) (29 August 1970 – 14 June 1975)
• Abdul Azeez Moosa Kaleyfaanu – Oasanvilla (late) (6 July 1978 – 19 July 1979)
• Ali Moosa Kaleyfanu (late) – Elpaso (6 September 1976 – 16 May 1978)
• Ahmed Wasif (late) – Rediyamge (2 November 1982 – 1 December 1983)
• Moosa Hassanfulhu – Dheyliyaage (17 November 1965 – 1992)
• Abdul Rahman Hussain – Kethi (retired)
• Ibrahim Haleem Ali (late) – Bina (late) (died March 10, 2021)
• Ibrahim Naeem - Waves (retired)

First Elected Velidhoo Council - 26 February 2011

• Mohamed Adil - Iramaage (President)
• Ahmed Saeed - Asdhoo (Vice President)
• Ahmed Ziyaad - Maadhuni
• Ahmed Siraaj - France
• Mohamed Faiz - Athiriaage

Second Elected Velidhoo Council - 13 March 2013

• President of council: Ali Ahmeen Boashimaage
• Vice President: Ibrahim Ali Boashimaage
• Councilor: Ali Mujthaba - Kethi
• Councilor: Asma Hussain - Aahama
• Councilor: Ibrahim Qasim - Fashuvimaage

Third Elected Velidhoo Council - 3 June 2017

• Asma Hussain - Aahama (President)
• Ahmed Jaufaru - Dearhouse (Vice President)
• Adam Ali - Hasthee (Council Member)

Fourth Elected Velidhoo Council - 17 May 2021

• Athif Hussain - Aahama (President)
• Jeehan Mohamed - Aliha (Vice President)
• Haafiza Ibrahim - Azum
• Mohamed Ali - Boashimaage
• Abdulla Faig - Maahaa

Women's Development Committee - 17 May 2021

• Shareefa Hassan - Janbuge
• Khadheeja Adam - Hive
• Aiminath Suneela - Adha
• Khadheeja Ibrahim - Bahaaruge
• Dhiyana Abdul Razzaq - Uraha

List of people who have been judges

• 1-Ibrahim Moosa Kaleyfaanu (Naibu dhonkokko) (late) – Seesange
• 2-Abdul Azeez Moosa Kaleyfaanu
• 3-Ibrahim Haleem
• 4-Mohamed Ibrahimfulhu (Miladhoo Mohamed fulhu)
• 5-Mohamed Haleem
• 6-raking

Municipal divisions

Velidhoo has a total of 2 divisions:

Uthuru

This is the northernmost division of the island.

Dhekunu

This is the southernmost division of the island.

Transport

The new harbour was opened by President Abdulla Yameen in 2017.^[5] The harbour, built by MTCC, is 240 m (800 ft) long and 76 m (250 ft) wide.^[6][7]

Transportation

There are several passenger and cargo boats/speed boats operating between velidhoo and the capital Male'; it takes about nine hours on the sea in order to reach the destination. However it only takes about 3 hours from Velidhoo to Male' by speed boats. Also there is the option of air transport, from Maafaru International Airport.

Boats

• Concord Express (N. Velidhoo)
• Sosan Express (Sh. Funadhoo)
• Royal 10 (N. Holhudhoo)
• Life Line (N. Holhudhoo)

Speed boats and ferry services

• Hope Travels
• Legion
• Flying Fish

Education

Noonu Atoll Education Centre is a government school in the island. HINZ pre-school is private school for baby age between 2 years and 4 years.

Health

Velidhoo Health Centre, and the STO Pharmacy.

Language

Dhivehi is the language spoken in Velidhoo. Spoken only in Maldives, Dhivehi belongs to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European family of languages. It has numerous loanwords from Tamil, Malayalam, Sinhalese, Arabic, Urdu, Hindi, Portuguese and English.

Religion

Islam is the official religion of the Republic of Maldives.

References

This page was last edited on 31 March 2024, at 08:19