President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has declared May 5, Sunday, as a government holiday.

President’s Office said that the directive was issued “to give all citizens and Muslim residents in the Maldives time to make preparations for the beginning of [Ramadan].”

The first day of Ramadan, according to the Gregorian calendar, will be Monday.

Earlier in April, the President’s Office announced that civil servants will work from 9am to 1pm during Ramadan, as well as the first seven days of the following month; 1st of Shawwaal to 7th of Shawwaal.