Parliament Building
Hakuraa Ganduvaru
The first People’s Majlis was formed along with the ratification of the first Constitution of Maldives on 22 December 1932. The first Sitting of Majlis was held in Fareedhee Building located on land formerly called “Hakuraa Ganduvaru”. The current People’s Majlis building is located where Fareedhee Building stood. The Sittings of the first two years of Majlis took place here until it was moved to a more permanent location.
Ibrahimiyya
The Sittings of the People’s Majlis were also held in various locations after its first two years based in Hakuraa Ganduvaru. One of these was “Ibrahimiyya”. This building was located on the site of current Republic Square (Male Ibrahimiyya was constructed under the helm of Minister of Home Affairs Henveiruge Ahmed Kamil. During the second world war, this building was initially used as an accommodation block for soldiers arriving in the Maldives following disasters at sea and a storage facility for aviation fuel. For this reason, this building was called “The Aircraft House”. This building was abandoned after the end of the Second World War and so it was decided to use it as a People’s Majlis building. The Speaker of Majlis at the time was Ibrahim Fareed Didi.
Dhaarul Uloom
Dhaarul Uloom, began to be used as the People’s Majlis building at the end of 1952. The first Republic of Maldives was proclaimed by Mohamed Ameen Didi in 1953 from a Majlis Sitting held in this building. Dhaarul Uloom constructed by the Department of Public Works on an area comprising of private land belonging to Kuda Rannaban’deyri Kilegefaanu, Athireege Ali Ahmed Dhoshimeynaa Kilegefaanu as well as others. The building of Dhaarul Uloom still exists in Majeedhiyaa School and is used as a school hall. This site is now protected by the National Center for Cultural Heritage.
Building to the east of “Bodu Store”
After Dhaarul Uloom, the location of the People’s Majlis was moved to a building to the east of Bodu Store (Big Store). This building was constructed under the helm of Vuzaaraathul Ash-aal. This work was done as part of the beautification of the habour area of Male’ for the proclamation of the First Republic ceremony held in the Maldives.
Naadhee-thamadhdhun
In the last years of President Ibrahim Nasir’s term of office, and during nearly two decades of President Uz. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s presidency, People’s Majlis sittings were held at Naadhi-al-thamaddhun (Naadhee). Along with People’s Majlis sittings, “National Library” was also established in Naadhee building. This marked the beginning of the National Library that we have today. With the continued expansion of scope and responsibilities of People’s Majlis, space constraints were also felt. A two-storey building was then annexed to the west of Naadhee. This building was formally inaugurated by the Speaker of the Majlis Honorable Abdulla Hameed on 22 September 1988.
Current People’s Majlis Building
The People’s Majlis, up until 1998, never had a permanent location. The journey to have its own building began on 26 June 1981 when foundation for its construction was laid down by President Uz Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.
It was constructed with the assistance of the Government of Pakistan who provided a grant for this purpose. The building was inaugurated by President Uz. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and the Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Shareef on 1 August 1998.
This is a two-storey building with the Majlis Chamber located on the ground floor. The first floor of the building has several office spaces that used to be spaces designated for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker’s office as well as library, archives, committee room and office area for administrative staff. The first floor also has public viewing galleries for listening to and viewing the Majlis proceedings that take place in the Chamber.
With the ever-expanding People’s Majlis and its functions, there was a need for additional office space. For this reason, work on a new 13-story Majlis Secretariat building next to the two-story structure began in 2007. This building began to be used in 2019.