Malé City Council is to prohibit vehicles on the evening of 27 July.

The decision was announced via a circular, which stated that Saturday evening will be an evening for pedestrians where vehicles will not be allowed on the roads.

Vehicles are to be prohibited from 03:30pm to 06:30pm.

While the decision was made in commemoration of Maldives Independence Day which falls on 26 July, it revealed that five bands from the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) and the Maldives National Cadet Corps will be hosting parades and route marches down the streets of the capital on 27 July.

As such, the decision to prohibit vehicles was made in order to make it safe for the elderly, children and the general public to enjoy the activities of the day as well as to avoid traffic issues during the time of the parade.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is set to address the Maldivian people in commemoration of 26 July, the day annually celebrated as the day Maldives gained independence under an agreement signed with the United Kingdom, in 1965.

His address will be telecast live at 10am on Saturday.