President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed attended the national flag-hoisting ceremony held at Republic Square on Saturday morning to mark the 61st Independence Day of the Maldives.
The ceremony began at 6:00 a.m. and was also attended by Vice President Uz Hussain Mohamed Latheef, Cabinet ministers, senior Government officials, and military personnel.
Following the raising of the national flag, a special prayer was offered in commemoration of the occasion. The ceremony concluded with the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Military Band performing the Maldivian national anthem.
The Maldives celebrates Independence Day every year on 26 July, marking the country’s achievement of full independence from the British Protectorate in 1965. Although the Maldives had remained internally self-governing under the Sultanate, Britain oversaw its defence and foreign affairs under a protectorate agreement. The agreement ended on 26 July 1965 after the signing of the Maldives Independence Agreement, restoring the nation’s full sovereignty. Since then, Independence Day has been observed annually with official ceremonies, military parades, and nationwide celebrations.
