Maldivian annual tribute

The Maldivian Annual Tribute was an tribute presented each year by the Sultan of the Maldives to the British Governor of Ceylon. The tributes were presented after the Maldive islands became a British protectorate in 1887 and were carried out annually until 1947 when a new agreement removed the requirement of tributes, however Maldives remained a British protectorate until 1953 when the sultanate was suspended and the First Republic was declared.

The presentation of tributes takes place in November, with the Sultan's state schooner carrying the gifts arriving in Colombo at the end of monsoon season. An afternoon is fixed and the Maldivian Representative in Colombo boards the schooner and returns with several divahin carrying the gifts on their heads. The Maldivian party is met at the harbor jetty by Ceylonese Mudaliyars in uniform and a Lascarins guard of honor and band, as well as police detachment to escort the Maldivian party to the Queen's House on foot. The streets would be lined with sightseers.

On arriving at Queen's House, the Maldivian Representative is formally received by the Governor and his officials. The Representative presents a letter wrapped in silk to the Governor from the Sultan. The presentation takes places with two interpreters translating. The Governor would speak in English which would be translated to Tamil and the Maldivian interpreter would translate it to Maldivian to the Maldivian Representative. The tribute is thereafter handed over followed by tea and the Maldivian Representative taking his leave.

The tribute would consist of a gift of the finest Maldivian produce such as Maldivian mats, lacquer, sweetmeats known as bondihalua, fish dish known as rihakuru, jars, shells and ambergris.

The Government of Ceylon would inturn send a letter to the Sultan accompanied by products of Ceylon.

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