Upcoming Sunday has been declared a public holiday by the government of Maldives.

The President's Office said that President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s decision to declare Sunday, a holiday, comes as it falls between two public holidays, Mawlid al-Nabi and Republic Day.

This year, Saturday falls on Mawlid al-Nabi, a day celebrated as the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), commemorated in the third month of Islamic Calender, Rabi-ul-Awwal.

Further, Monday is observed as Republic Day in the Maldives which celebrated the change of monarchy to a republic in the country in 1968.

These two days are declared public holidays, annually.

Following this decision, there are four public holidays within next week including Friday.