Minister Calls for Digital Protection of Heritage at Asia Summit

Small island nations risk losing their core national identity and collective memory unless digital platforms and modern technologies are urgently leveraged to protect their heritage, Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Heena Waleed stated during an international summit in China yesterday.

Addressing the 4th Council Meeting of the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia (ACHA), Minister Heena stressed that for countries like the Maldives, cultural loss extends far beyond physical damage to historical monuments.

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“The Dhivehi language, indigenous knowledge, and the distinct cultural heritage of small communities like the Maldives must be adequately represented in the digital space,” Minister Heena said, advocating for equitable access to innovative heritage preservation tools across all nations.

She noted that protecting Maldivian identity forms the cornerstone of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s vision for 2040 shaping ongoing national policy development and institutional reforms.

Minister Heena is currently on an official visit to China from October 16 to 20 to participate in the ACHA council meeting and the Liangzhu Forum. The Alliance represents Asia’s first multilateral body dedicated to regional cultural preservation.

ޗައިނާއަށް މިހާރު ކުރައްވަމުން ގެންދަވާ ރަސްމީ ދަތުރުފުޅުގައި، ‘އެލަޔަންސް ފޮރ ކަލްޗަރަލް ހެރިޓޭޖް އިން އޭޝިއާ’ގެ ހަތަރުވަނަ ބައްދަލުވުމުގައި ބައިވެރިވެވަޑައިގެން ވަޒީރު ހީނާ ވަލީދު މިއަދު ދެއްވި ތަޤުރީރުގެ ތެރެއިން. އިތުރު ތަފްޞީލް: https://t.co/dWEwtK9GzB https://t.co/TvpdhnPnkP— Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage (@MoDLCH) October 18, 2026