President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed attended the flag-raising ceremony held to mark National Day.
The ceremony was held at Republic Square at 6:00am today. Upon the President's arrival at Republic Square, he was welcomed by Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Heena Waleed and Minister of Defence and National Service Hassan Rasheed.
The ceremony was also attended by the Vice President, Speaker of Parliament, Chief Justice, Cabinet ministers and senior government officials.
The National Day flag-raising ceremony was also held simultaneously in Male' and across the islands. It is the first activity held each year to commemorate National Day.
A special prayer for the occasion was also offered during the flag-raising ceremony. The prayer was led by the Director General of Zakat at the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Endowments, Fazeelath Sheikh Izzuddin Adhunan.
National Day is commemorated in connection with the day Sultan Ghazi Mohamed Thakurufaanu Al Auzam liberated the Maldives from Portuguese rule. The day falls on the first day of Rabi' al-Awwal in the year 981 of the Hijri calendar.
The government has planned a number of activities to mark this year’s National Day. The official National Day ceremony will be held in Utheemu, Haa Alif, the birthplace of National Day hero Mohamed Thakurufaanu.
The official National Day ceremony will include the presentation of the National Honour Award and the National Award of Recognition for Courage.