During the second world war era, Maldives was recognized as a protectorate of Great Britain and control of the defense and foreign relations of Maldives were vested in Great Britain. Therefore, they used some of the islands in the southern point of Maldivian archipelago to establish army bases.
Their initial army base was established in S.Hulhudhoo. They employed the locals of the island to carry out some of their tasks. Later they established their military base in S.Gan after moving most of the inhabitants to the other islands of the city. British used RAF Gan to bomb Egypt during Arab Israel wars.
Maldives gained political independence after 77 years as a British protectorate in 26th July 1965. In 1976, a 100-year lease agreement was done between the government and the kingdom of Britain by Dictator Ibrahim Nasir due to which the British army had to leave the Addu city.
A movement was brought about in Addu city, during the British colonization where the settlers were exposed to newer job opportunities, customs and ideas which led to a change in their lives. After decolonization of British, the settlers were independent, modern and open to different ideas and styles.
During the Second World War the British army built different structures in different areas of the island. They built bunkers and platforms to mount the large guns near the shore which was used to protect people and valued materials in a military attack. The ruins of these structures still exit however due to increase in soil erosion, the heritage is in the borderline of vanishing.
The British army also built several different wells in the island as a source of clean drinking water. They are large and in circular shapes. Now, only one well is remaining on the island. The damages received to the well was rectified recently in order to preserve the heritage.
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