President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has said that active participation by the citizenry is essential for national development and harmony. He made the remark during his Victory Day address to the nation.
In his address, the President urged all Maldivians to be vigilant of potential outside threats to national sovereignty and domestic peace.
The President highlighted that Victory Day was a commemoration of the triumph of the Maldivian armed forces against the dangerous, and treacherous, attack of 3rd November 1988 — an event forever etched in the minds of an entire generation of Maldivians. The attack led to not only great financial losses, but also left a lasting traumatic impact on the psyche of all Maldivians, the President said.
President Yameen reiterated that it was the duty of today’s youth, and of the generation to follow, to ensure the nation’s independence for the generations which follow — this can only be achieved by giving due attention, and importance, to the well-being of the nation instead of thinking about one’s own welfare alone.