The first couple has attended the flag hoisting ceremony marking National Day 1445.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and First Lady Fazna Ahmed attended the ceremony on Saturday.

The event was held at Republic Square and began at 6 am.

They were accompanied by cabinet ministers and officials from government offices.

Upon arrival, President Solih and First Lady Fazna were welcomed by the Minister of Defense, Uza Mariya Ahmed Didi, and the Minister of Home Affairs, Sheikh Imran Abdulla. A special prayer, marking the significance of the occasion, was recited during the ceremony.

The National Day, celebrated annually on the first of Rabi' al-Awwal, serves as a solemn reminder of the valiant efforts of national hero al-Sultan al-Ghaazee Muhammad Thakurufaanu al-A'uzam in liberating the Maldives from Portuguese dominion. This day is a tribute to the resilience and sacrifice that underpin the nation's independence.