Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef and Parliament Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla have arrived in Utheemu, Haa Alif Atoll, to attend National Day activities.
The official National Day ceremony will be held on the morning of 15 August in Utheemu.
Upon arrival in Utheemu, the Vice President and the Speaker were welcomed by residents of all ages at the island’s harbour area.
President Mohamed Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed will travel to Utheemu on 15 August where they will be officially welcomed at 8:30 am. The National Day ceremony is scheduled to begin at 10 am.
Events include the opening of the “Boduthakurufaanu Handhaanee Dhoruashi” and an exhibition showcasing the history of National Day.
National Day activities began on 14 August, including a flag-raising ceremony. A fireworks display was held later in the evening.
The National Day commemorates the Maldives’ independence from Portuguese rule. The Maldives gained independence from Portuguese rule in 1573, following the resistance movement led by Sultan Al-Ghazi Muhammad Thakurufaanu Al-A’uzam and five others. The independence is said to have been achieved on 1 Rabi’ul Awwal.