A parliamentary exchange between Hithadhoo North MP Abdulla Sodiq and Health Minister Dr. Geela Ali has reignited debate over the use of regional dialects in the People's Majlis.

During Tuesday's session, Sodiq addressed the minister in the Addu dialect, which he has regularly spoken during parliamentary debates since taking office.

His questions focused on the availability of psychiatric medicines and injections at Addu Equatorial Hospital, as well as the timeline for expanding hospital facilities to meet capacity needs.

In response, Geela stated she was unable to fully understand the questions because they were delivered in the Addu dialect.

“I am not from Addu. I do not understand what you just said,” the minister told Parliament.

Despite the language barrier, Geela responded to part of the inquiry, mentioning that work on expanding Addu Hospital is expected to start in August.

The exchange was widely circulated on social media and sparked differing opinions on the use of regional dialects in government institutions.

Some commenters argued that dialects spoken across the Maldives are part of the Dhivehi language and should be recognized and accommodated within national institutions.

Former Parliament Speaker Mohamed Aslam criticized the minister’s response, emphasizing that public officials should strive to understand regional variations of the language.

“The Addu dialect is part of Dhivehi,” Aslam wrote on social media. He added that ministers and senior officials should seek clarification when needed, rather than dismiss questions asked in regional dialects.

Others believed that standard Dhivehi should be used in Parliament and government settings to ensure clear communication.

Some social media users pointed out that many Maldivians struggle to understand dialects like those from Addu, Huvadhu, and Fuvahmulah without translation into standard Dhivehi.

Using regional dialects in Parliament is not a new phenomenon; former Dhaandhoo MP Yaugoob Abdulla often spoke in the Huvadhu dialect during debates.

This incident has renewed discussions about the role of regional dialects in public institutions and how they can be included while maintaining clarity in official discussions.