National Day festivities has begun this morning, with the official flag hoisting ceremony.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed attended the National Day ceremony at Republic Square.

Vice President Uz Hussain Mohamed Latheef and senior Government officials were also in attendance.

President Dr Muizzu and the First Lady were welcomed to the ceremony by the Minister of Defence, Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon, and the Minister of Dhivehi Language, Culture and Heritage, Adam Naseer Ibrahim.

In addition to the flag-hoisting, a special prayer was recited to mark the significance of the occasion. The ceremony concluded with the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) military band performing the national anthem.

National Day, observed annually on the first of Rabi’ al-Awwal, commemorates the heroic efforts of al-Sultan al-Ghaazee Muhammad Thakurufaanu al-A’uzam in liberating the Maldives from Portuguese rule. The day serves as a tribute to the resilience and sacrifice that underpin the nation’s independence.