An English-Dhivehi dictionary written by the esteemed Maldivian academic Dr. Hassan Hameed was officially released on Sunday, making it the most extensive book of its type ever printed in the Maldives.

Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom launched the dictionary during a special event at the Maldives National University's central administration auditorium.

After the official launch, Dr. Hassan Hameed remarked that the dictionary is very pertinent to current requirements and will provide substantial advantages to a broad audience. He stressed that the release will be a priceless asset for students, Dhivehi language learners, and individuals committed to the conservation and progress of the language.

During the ceremony, Maumoon praised Dr. Hassan Hameed for his exceptional commitment, stating that such a significant task could not be completed in a brief timeframe. He emphasized that the dictionary represents years of careful work and portrayed Dr. Hassan Hameed as an outstanding academic.

Maumoon also mentioned that the dictionary would be an essential resource for students and language lovers throughout the nation.

"Creating a dictionary is not a job that can be finished in a day, a month, or even in one or two years. It is a much more challenging, complex, and time-intensive task. Consequently, I express my deep appreciation to the esteemed Dr. Hameed for carrying out this challenging endeavor with great patience for many years," Maumoon stated.

The lexicon written by Dr. Hassan Hameed includes more than 120,000 entries and weighs around 2.1 kilograms.

Dr. Hassan Hameed is a distinguished academic who has made significant contributions to education, science, and astronomy in the Maldives. With a background in physics, mathematics, and astronomy, he has written many books and articles and engaged in significant educational research.