Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)

Bill and Melinda Gates vacationin­g in the Maldives

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American business magnate and renowned philanthro­pist Bill Gates and his family are holidaying in the Maldives, Maldives Insider has learned.

Reliable sources confirmed that Bill and Melinda Gates together with their three children arrived in the Maldives last week ( Sunday morning). They travelled directly to Naladhu Private Island Maldives, the news website reported.

Maldives Insider understand­s that a security entourage had arrived in the Maldives before the visit. A private yacht had also been reportedly brought into the resort.

Located only a 30- minute speedboat ride from the main airport, the multi- award winning private island of Naladhu offers an intimate beach resort experience with just 19 guest villas, including six Beach Pool Houses, 12 Ocean Pool Houses and a Two- Bedroom Pool Residence. These weathered- wood accommodat­ions come with a private garden and an infinity pool, highceilin­ged interiors decorated in cane and tropical hues, and an open- air bathroom with L’Occitane products and a sea- facing tub for two.

The Living Room restaurant’s dining spaces range from tables set around the all- glass wine cellar to cushioned Indian daybeds under the stars, and a fleet of traditiona­l Maldivian dhonis adds onboard private dinners.

Gates was in France late last week to attend the One Planet Summit, a global gathering of world leaders and philanthro­pists to discuss issues related to climate change. During the summit, Gates had met Maldives Environmen­t Minister Toriq Ibrahim.

Gates, one of the best- known entreprene­urs of the personal computer rev- olution, had spent his holidays in the Maldives on previous occasions as well.

With his wife Melinda, Gates chairs the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the world’s largest private charitable foundation. The foundation works to save lives and improve global health, and i s wo rking with Ro t a r y Internatio­nal to eliminate polio.

Maldives is amongst the most sought after destinatio­ns by high profile personalit­ies and celebrity travellers from around the world, the report said.

Oscar- winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio and American TV personalit­y Paris Hilton have recently partied in the Maldives.

The likes of English singer and television presenter Rochelle Humes and her husband Marvin, and British TV personalit­y Billie Faiers have all declared the Maldives as their favourite part of the world for a relaxing getaway. Another British singer Perrie Edwards and English actress Millie Mackintosh have also fallen in love with the white sands, turquoise waters and the blue skies of the Maldives.

Hollywood actress Gal Gadot, Bollywood personalit­ies such as Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Alia Bhatt, Priyanka Chopra and the Bachchan family as well as world- renowned music artists such as Robin Thicke have declared their love for the Maldives.

Sports personalit­ies, including the likes of David Beckham, Carlos Tevez, Arjen Robben, Miroslav Klose, Franz Beckenbaue­r, Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcel Desailly have also spent their hardearned vacations in the tropical paradise.

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