President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has declared August 30th as "Maldives Engineering Day", a move that has drawn sharp criticism for celebrating a Chinese-led project rather than Maldivian engineering achievements.
The date marks the inauguration of the Sinamalé Bridge, built by a Chinese company and widely seen as a symbol of China’s growing influence in the Maldives.
According to the President’s Office, the day was chosen because the bridge is the largest infrastructure project in the country’s history, and therefore, "the most appropriate" to honor engineering.
However, the decision has triggered public backlash, with many accusing President Muizzu of using the occasion to glorify a project he oversaw as Housing Minister and to cement his political legacy.
Critics argue the move sidelines local engineers and undermines national pride by tying a day meant to celebrate Maldivian engineering to foreign involvement.
One user on X described the decision as "a celebration of Chinese engineers," calling it a slap in the face to Maldivian professionals. Others pointed to the contradiction between this move and President Muizzu’s frequent nationalist rhetoric, noting the irony of honoring a foreign-built bridge while branding critics of government policy as unpatriotic.
