The government has decided to add a special medal to the National Awards, to every hafiz to have memorized the Holy Quran while attaining the highest grade.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s decision to include special medals at the National Awards, for those who memorize the Holy Quran completely and also attain the highest grade, was announced on Tuesday.

While government is conferring these medals to recognize these “exemplary” achievements, medals are to be conferred to four winners at this year's National Awards ceremony which is slated for Saturday.

Each hafiz to have fully memorized the Holy Quran and achieved the second and third highest grades will be awarded medals during the awarding ceremony of the National Quran Competition.

The National Awards ceremony will be held at the Republic Square in the Maldives capital, Malé City and will begin at 8:30pm.

Organized by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the ceremony will see preparations conducted in accordance with the safety guidelines and instructions set by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) in light of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Covid-19 safety precautions will be implemented during the ceremony, and the number of invitees to this year’s ceremony has also been reduced under the instructions of the public health authority.