President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has decided to confer the esteemed Grand Order of Military Honour (GOMH) upon Major General Retired Moosa Ali Jaleel.

This decision recognizes Major General Jaleel’s distinguished service to national security and his significant contributions to safeguarding the sovereignty of the Republic of Maldives.

The honour particularly acknowledges his valour during the events of 3rd November 1988, when he demonstrated extraordinary courage in the face of a terror attack. His actions were instrumental in protecting the nation and its people during this critical period.

The award is granted under the President’s authority as outlined in Article 115 of the Constitution of the Republic of Maldives, in accordance with Act No. 1/97 (Maldives Honor Act).

Major General Retired Moosa Ali Jaleel will officially receive the Grand Order of Military Honor at a special ceremony marking this year’s Victory Day. The event will be held on Sunday at 8:30 pm at Dharubaaruge.

Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has held annual flag-raising and guard-mounting ceremony at the November 3 Memorial.

President and Chief of Army Staff Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, First Lady Sajidha Mohamed, and Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef attended the ceremony. Also present were ministers, officials, and a large contingent of soldiers.

The November 3 Memorial honor’s the sacrifices made in defence of the nation. The structure is designed to replicate the wall through which terrorists infiltrated the army headquarters. The sceptre symbolises the army’s noble jihad in defence of the sovereign independence of the Maldives. Surrounding the flag is an inscription of a verse from Allah, along with its Dhivehi translation, symbolising that Maldivian soldiers stand ever-ready to make any sacrifice for their religion and country. Eight floral arrangements on either side of the building commemorate the soldiers who were martyred on November 3.

During the ceremony, eight flags were mounted, each representing one of the eight soldiers who lost their lives in the attack. A moment of silence was observed in honor of the martyrs, followed by a seven-gun salute. The ceremony concluded with a special prayer for the occasion and the official song of MNDF.

The November 3 Memorial commemorates the victory over the invasion of November 3, 1988. Located in the southwest corner of the army headquarters, a flag-raising and guard-mounting ceremony has been held at the site each Victory Day since the establishment of the memorial.

Victory Day, observed on 3 November, marks the day in 1988 when six traitors colluded with a foreign group in an attempt to seize control of the Maldives. Nineteen Maldivians were martyred in the attack, including eight soldiers and eleven civilians.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has extended Victory Day greetings to the people of the Maldives.

In a social media post marking Victory Day, the President shared a poem celebrating the courage and determination of the Maldivian people. In the verses shared, he highlighted how the people of the Maldives stood united to protect their nation and their flag.

Additionally, the President urged Maldivians to remember those who sacrificed their blood and lives in defence of the country.

On November 3, 1988, nineteen Maldivians were martyred in an attack orchestrated with the support of a small group of Maldivians. Among them, eleven civilians and eight soldiers gave their lives while defending the nation.

Today marks the 36th Victory Day.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has stated that councils will receive 5% of the block grant as stipulated by law when this year’s budget is passed.

President Dr Muizzu made this statement whilst speaking at today’s opening ceremony of the Pet Care Facility.

In his speech, the President highlighted the Government’s efforts to empower councils and strengthen council administration. He noted that the Government has decided to facilitate councils’ access to uninhabited islands to increase their revenue and allocate a certain percentage of local tourism tax to councils.

Continuing along these lines, the President stated that in addition to the 5% block grant, he will recommend amendments to the law to ensure councils receive a certain percentage of local tourism tax. He also mentioned that discussions are ongoing in the Cabinet about transferring several pending legal responsibilities to councils within the next week or fortnight.

Speaking at the ceremony, President Dr Muizzu emphasized that his Administration is not merely making promises, but actively demonstrating its commitment to empowering councils through the decentralization system by taking concrete actions. He added that the “Olhu Hiya” (Pet Care Facility) being opened today is a result of this effort.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu inaugurated a state-of-the-art pet care facility at a special ceremony held in Hulhumale Phase-2 on Saturday evening.

During the ceremony, the President stated that he had been working on establishing the project since his tenure as mayor. However, he noted that the project could not proceed due to a lack of cooperation from the previous Administration.

At the event, the President underscored his Administration’s commitment to realizing the Pet Care Facility. He noted that, for the first time in the Maldives, a Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare has been established to oversee these initiatives and to ensure the responsible care of animals nationwide. The President further indicated that land has been designated for the facility and that all necessary resources have been allocated. Responsibility for implementing the project was assigned to the Malé City Council.

The President stated that his Government has prioritized implementing initiatives through decentralization. He added that he would engage with local councils to ensure they are provided with the necessary facilities.

The President affirmed that decentralization remains a top priority, underscoring the Government’s working closely with the citizens. He highlighted ongoing efforts to empower local councils and emphasized the importance of enabling them to generate revenue.

Concluding his speech, the President assured that his Government would make every effort to foster strong connections with the people and to provide for their needs effectively.

The President was accompanied at the event by Vice President Uz Hussain Mohamed Latheef, along with senior state officials.

The Pet Care Facility, inaugurated by the President, was established as part of the current Government’s initiative to provide a lasting solution to the issue of stray cats in the city. The project aims to establish and enforce comprehensive pet care standards and regulations nationwide.