President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has, in his Unity Day address, urged the nation to make it a necessity to put forth national spirit, and advised the people to recognize and accept the work being carried out for the progress and development of the nation.
The President has extended warm greetings and good wishes to all Maldivians on the occasion, and stated that the National Day of Unity is observed in remembrance of the spirit of national unity and solidarity shown by the people of Maldives in the immediate aftermath of the 2004 tsunami — the most tragic, and the largest national calamity faced by the Maldives in recent history.
The President said that memories of the tragic day still evoke bitterness and sorrow, as so many Maldivians lost loved ones to the disaster, and the nation faced a huge amount of loss in a short time frame, causing extreme socioeconomic damage to the country. He stated that even today Maldivians should recall the team effort put in to overcome the loss caused in the disaster.
The President went on to describe the solidarity, love and compassion that was displayed by Maldivians during the catastrophe as remarkable, and emphasised that learning lessons from the disaster and moving ahead with solidarity was a national duty.