{{Short description|Maldivian civil servant (died 2015)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Ali Maniku | image = Ali Umar Manik (photo) 2001.jpg | caption = Maniku in 2000 | alongside = {{ubl|Abdul Sattar Moosa Didi|Ahmed Hilmy Didi|Ibrahim Shihab|Hassan Zareer}} | nickname = Koli Ali Maniku | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|size=100%|country=MDV|NIIV}} | native_name = {{lang|dv|ޢަލީ މަނިކު}} | native_name_lang = dv | birth_place = Fura Malé, Maldive Islands | office = Vice President of the Maldives | birth_date = {{Birth year|1935}} | death_date = {{Death date and age|2015|12|19|1935|df=yes}} | death_place = Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Singapore | term_start = 16 July 1975 | term_end = 14 January 1977 | president = Ibrahim Nasir }}
'''Ali Umar Maniku''', {{post-nominals|size=100%|country=MDV|NIIV}} ({{Langx|dv|ޢަލީ ޢުމަރުމަނިކު}}; {{circa|1935}}–19 December 2015<ref name="death">{{cite web |date=19 December 2015 |title=State Dignitary Ali Umar Manik passes away; National Flag to be flown at half-mast |url=https://presidency.gov.mv/Press/Article/16234 |access-date=3 January 2026|website=The President's Office}}</ref>), popularly known as '''Koli Ali Maniku''' was a Maldivian civil servant, cabinet minister and Vice President of the Maldives.<ref>{{cite web |date=19 April 1976 |title=Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–8, Documents on South Asia, 1973–1976 |url=https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76ve08/d95 |access-date=3 August 2024 |website=Office of the Historian}}</ref>
== Early life == Maniku was sent to Colombo with the assistance of prime minister Mohamed Amin Didi when he was nine years old for a treatment. He later stayed in Colombo and was educated at Sosun Villa.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Shaahunaz |first=Fathmath |date=20 December 2015 |title=Koli Ali Maniku – a truly loyal servant of Maldives |url=http://haveeru.com.mv/feature/64957 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226094910/http://haveeru.com.mv/feature/64957 |archive-date=26 December 2015 |access-date= |work=Haveeru Daily}}</ref> During his time studying, he shared dorms with Ibrahim Nasir.<ref name=":2" />
== Career == He started working in public service in 1958.<ref name="death" /> He also worked as trade ambassador.<ref name="death" /> He worked on the development of Hulhulé Airport and the promotion of tourism in the Maldives.<ref name="death" /> He also headed Maldives Shipping Limited.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Banks |first=Arthur |title=Political Handbook of the World |publisher=McGraw-Hill Book Company |year=1977}}{{Page needed|date=August 2024}}</ref>
Maniku was appointed as one of the Vice Presidents in the administration of former President Ibrahim Nasir appointed by Nasir after the arrest of former prime minister Ahmed Zaki and following a constitutional revision.<ref name=":0" /> He was one of the Vice Presidents from October 1975<ref name="cia1">{{Cite book |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/osu.32435024020034 |title=Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments: Jul - Dec 1975 |publisher=The Ohio State University |year=2003 |location=Washington, D.C. |pages=42 |language=en |hdl=2027/osu.32435024020034 |via=HathiTrust}}</ref> to May 1977.<ref name="cia2">{{Cite book |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/osu.32435024019994 |title=Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments: Jan - June 1977 |publisher=The Ohio State University |year=2003 |location=Washington, D.C. |publication-date=2003 |pages=43 |language=en |hdl=2027/osu.32435024019994 |via=HathiTrust}}</ref> He also held other cabinet positions such as Minister of Tourism and Trade in 1970s.<ref name="cia1" /><ref name="cia2" />
During the presidency of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Maniku served as special advisor to the president for 26 years.<ref name="death" /> He was minister of shipping in Maumoon's cabinet in the end of 1970s.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Countries of the World and Their Leaders |publisher=Gale Research Company |year=1979 |volume=5}}{{Page needed|date=August 2024}}</ref>
In 1979, Maniku received the Public Service Award for his contributions to the Maldivian economy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ޢާންމުޚިދުމަތުގެ އިނާމު - އަލްފާޟިލް ޢަލީ ޢުމަރުމަނިކު |trans-title=Public Service Award - Mr. Ali Umar Maniku |url=https://presidency.gov.mv/NationalAwards/Winner/1417 |access-date=9 October 2025 |website=The President's Office |language=dv}}</ref>
In 1982, Maniku received the Public Service Award for his contributions to the Maldivian community.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ޢާންމުޚިދުމަތުގެ އިނާމު - އަލްފާޟިލް ޢަލީ ޢުމަރުމަނިކު |trans-title=Public Service Award - Mr. Ali Umar Maniku |url=https://presidency.gov.mv/NationalAwards/Winner/1473 |access-date=9 October 2025 |website=The President's Office |language=dv}}</ref>
Maniku received Order of the Distinguished Rule of Izzuddin in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |date=9 November 2008 |title=President Gayoom confers "Order of Izzuddin" to eleven senior officials |url=http://www.maldivesinfo.gov.mv/home/files/bulletinx_det.php?id_news=1070 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016072423/http://www.maldivesinfo.gov.mv/home/files/bulletinx_det.php?id_news=1070 |archive-date=16 October 2023 |website=Maldives News Bulletin |publisher=Department of Information}}</ref>
Maniku wrote a narration of his 50 years of experience in both Dhivehi and English.<ref name=":1" />
== Death == At 21:30 hours, Ali Umar Maniku died at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore on 19 December 2015.<ref>{{cite web |date=24 December 2015 |title=Late Ali Umar Manik's passing away is a great loss to the nation – President Yameen |url=https://presidency.gov.mv/Press/Article/16260 |access-date=3 August 2024 |website=The President's Office}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom declared a three day state of mourning upon Maniku's death and the National flag was flown half-mast.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |date=20 December 2015 |title=President appoints Hon. Umar Naseer as Special Representative of the President to attend the funeral of State Dignitary Ali Umar Manik |url=https://presidency.gov.mv/Press/Article/16235 |access-date=3 August 2024 |website=The President's Office}}</ref> Home Minister Umar Naseer was appointed as the special representative of the President.<ref name=":1" /> The funeral was held in Singapore.<ref name=":1" /> The prayer in absentia was held at Masjid-ul Sultan Mohamed Thakurufaanu-al Auzam after I'sha prayer.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 December 2015 |title=President attends Funeral Prayer-in-Absentia held for Late Ali Umar Manik |url=https://presidency.gov.mv/Press/Article/16247 |access-date=3 August 2024 |website=The President's Office}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Vice Presidents of the Maldives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maniku, Ali Umar}} Category:1930s births Category:2015 deaths Category:Vice presidents of the Maldives Category:Tourism ministers of the Maldives Category:Trade ministers of the Maldives Category:20th-century civil servants Category:Recipients of the Order of Izzuddin Category:Maldivian Muslims