President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed attended the special flag-hoisting ceremony held this morning to commemorate the 61st Independence Day of the Maldives. The ceremony took place at Republic Square at 6:00 a.m.

They were accompanied by Vice President Uz Hussain Mohamed Latheef and senior Government officials.

Following the flag-hoisting, a special prayer was recited in observance of the occasion. The ceremony concluded with the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Military Band performing the Maldivian national anthem.

Independence Day is observed annually on 26 July, commemorating the day the Maldives gained full independence from the British Protectorate in 1965.