President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has called on soldiers to maintain high discipline, emphasising strictly following the armed forces code of ethics and maintaining the highest standard of conduct as per the armed forces act will be the stepping stone in preserving public trust.
Speaking at the special function held at the Kalhuthuhkalaa Koshi, the armed forces base, to commemorate Victory Day of Maldives, President Solih praised the heroic efforts of all soldiers of the armed forces since its inception.
Highlighting the daring rescue of citizens from the recent blaze that swept through several buildings in Male' City, the president reiterated soldiers continue showing the same courage and bravery as those who defended the country 31 years ago, symbolising the oath of the armed forces. He said the most important lesson one must learn from the treacherous attack of November 3, 1988 is to identify and deter such future incidents.
Stressing the mightiest spear in the battle to protect religion and sovereignty is the relationship between civilians and the armed forces, the president said Maldivians displayed the same bond of togetherness during the treacherous attack 31 years ago and later on during the 2004 tsunami crisis as well as the recent fire incident.
The president accentuated the brave soldiers of the armed forces are always at the forefront of protecting the Maldivian people no matter what the task. He stated several policies have been drafted to further enhance the welfare of soldiers, as well as focussing on the improvement of skills and technical capabilities of the armed forces.
Concluding his remarks, President Solih praised the brave soldiers who took position in defending the sovereignty of the nation and sent prayers to the martyrs who lost their lives in defending the country. He especially noted the heroic actions of Corporal Hussain Adam, who fought till his last breath to keep insurgents from breaching the main army headquarters.
The president awarded a special silver medal of bravery to nine soldiers, who risked their lives to rescue the stranded victims of the recent fire incident. He also unveiled a music album consisting of national songs by the armed forces.