Long-serving government official Abdul Shakoor Ali of Maafannu Aasthaana has died aged 79.

He died on Saturday morning and the funeral prayer and burial was held later that day.

Abdul Shakoor’s first job was as a business manager of a government store and later began working at the President’s Office. He had served in the government for 43 years.

Abdul Shakoor had written and published numerous novels in his lifetime and was also awarded for his translation work. He had translated over 50 books to Dhivehi.

Many of his colleagues are high-ranking government positions.

His daughter, Azima Shakoor, is the legal adviser at the President’s Office.