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Maldives / History / The British Protectorate

On December 16, 1887 the Sultan of the Maldives signed a contract with the British Governor of Ceylon turning the Maldives into a British protectorate.

The British government promised the Maldives military protection and non-interference in local administration in exchange for an annual tribute paid by the Maldives.

In 1957 the British established a RAF base in the strategic southernmost atoll of Addu for £2000 a year, where hundreds of locals were employed.

19 years later the British government decided to give up the base, as it was too expensive to maintain.

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