Sri Lankan worker embraces Islam in Maldives
Sri Lankan expatriate converts to Islam in Maldives mosque, spotlighting faith journeys among foreign workers in Indian Ocean Muslim-majority nation
MALE, Maldives (MNTV) — A Sri Lankan national working in the southern atoll of Feydhoo has embraced Islam, marking another instance of a foreign resident publicly converting to the faith in the island nation.
Jayasingha Arachchige Waruna Prabath Sadaruwan, who was employed at a local salon, formally converted this week and adopted the name Abdullah Adam following the Islamic declaration of faith.
A video circulating on social media shows the moment inside a mosque in Feydhoo, where a Maldivian man guides him through the Shahada, Islam’s testimony of faith affirming belief in one God and acceptance of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as His messenger. After reciting the declaration, he is seen exchanging greetings with those present at the ceremony.
The announcement of his conversion was shared online and drew congratulatory messages from members of the local community.
His conversion comes days after a female tourist from Northern Ireland also embraced Islam while visiting the Maldives, reflecting how some expatriates and visitors describe their time in the country as spiritually transformative.
The Maldives, a Muslim-majority nation in the Indian Ocean, constitutionally requires its citizens to be Muslim. Foreign nationals, however, are permitted to practice their religions privately.
Islamic scholars note that conversion in Islam requires a voluntary and conscious declaration of faith. Community members frequently gather in mosques to witness the Shahada, offering guidance and support to new Muslims as they begin their religious journey.
For many residents, such moments underscore the central role of faith in Maldivian society — a dimension often overshadowed globally by the country’s reputation as a luxury tourism destination.
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