A structural analysis has been conducted at the Old Friday Mosque in Male’ City.
The structural analysis of the dome structure of the mosque was conducted by a three-member delegation from the Central Building Research Institute of India during their visit to the Maldives from March 12-16. During the visit, Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Yumna Maumoon met the team to discuss their findings and ways to preserve the dome structure of the Old Friday Mosque.
India offered to undertake the conservation and restoration works of the Old Friday Mosque under a grant of USD1.5 million. The project involves both structural conservation work and chemical preservation work. These include repairs to woodwork, beams, roofs, plaster work, drainage, signage, as well as treating woodwork and lacquer work for damage and termite infestation. The National Centre for Culture and Heritage has stated that the tombstones in the courtyard have now been treated and preserved for future generations.
The Old Friday Mosque is one of the oldest and most ornate mosques in the Maldives. The mosque was built in 1656, during the reign of Ibrahim Iskandar I. Coral boulders were used in the construction of the mosque, with master craftsmen joining blocks of coral without any mortar or lime, and using only hewn grooves. The mosque was added to the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list in 2008.