President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and First Lady Madam Sajidha Mohamed observed the military parade and display by the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) to commemorate MNDF's 133rd anniversary.
The parade, which featured military personnel and vehicles from land, air and sea divisions of MNDF, began at Bandaara Koshi, the MNDF Headquarters.
President Dr Muizzu, in his capacity as the Commander-in-Chief, inspected the troops near President’s Office, where he was honoured with a Presidential salute. He was accompanied by members of his family, Minister of Defence Ghassan Maumoon, Cabinet Ministers and other dignitaries.
A large amount of members of the public, including children, gathered along the parade route to watch the event. The parade, which followed a designated route, included five performances by the MNDF band, and troops showcased the diverse range of services that the military offers.
Following the commencement of the parade, President Muizzu engaged with members of the public and posed for photographs.
According to MNDF, the parade aimed to highlight the significance of the armed forces and their readiness to defend the nation. MNDF noted that the primary goal of the march is to instill a sense of patriotism in the hearts of the people and the younger generation.
The Maldivian military, now known as MNDF, was officially established on April 21, 1892.