Ministry of Home Affairs Imran Abdulla has said social harmony and sovereignty are essential in preserving the nationalism of Maldives.
Speaking at the flag hoisting ceremony to mark the National Day of Maldives attended by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Vice President Faisal Naseem, Minister Imran said the development of all civilisations has very largely depended on two factors, sovereignty and social harmony. He highlighted on the importance of both in making a nation progressive. He further urged the people to be responsible in transferring the sovereignty and the harmony to the generations to come.
The function began with the recitation from the Holy Quran once President Solih arrived at the Republic Square. The Brass band of Maldives National Defence force (MNDF) played the National Anthem following the hoisting of the national flag. A special supplication, led by Imam of the Islamic Centre Sheikh Nasrulla Ali, was also read during the function to mark the National Day.
The National Day of Maldives is celebrated as a tribute to the local resistance that drove out the Portuguese occupiers after they had seized and ruled the islands for a span of 15 years. The Portuguese arrived in 1558, killed the sultan, and took over Maldives.
However, in 1573, Muhammad Thakurufaanu and his forces took back the capital, Male' City, in a decisive victory that effectively eliminated the Portuguese presence.
Every 1st of Rabi'al Awwal of the lunar Islamic calendar is marked as the national day to remember the nationalism of Mohamed Thakurufaanu.
The first national day was marked on February 4, 1946.