President Muizzu attends Victory Day flag hoisting and guard mounting ceremony at November 3rd Memorial Structure

The flag hoisting and guard mounting ceremony at the November 3rd Memorial Structure was graced by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and his wife, Sajida Mohamed, on Victory Day. The ceremony was held at 06:00 this morning at the site of the November 3rd Memorial Structure. On arrival, President Muizzu and his wife were welcomed by Defence Minister Hassan Rashid and senior military officials. The ceremony began with permission granted by the President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. It was also attended by Speaker of the People's Majlis Abdurrahim Abdullah, Chief Justice Abdul Ghanee Mohamed, ministers, a large number of armed forces personnel, and retired military personnel. As part of commemorating this year's Victory Day, eight flags were hoisted at the November 3rd Memorial Structure. The eight flags symbolise the eight soldiers who sacrificed their lives defending the nation against the terrorist attack on the Maldives on November 3, 1988. A one-minute silence was observed in memory of the martyrs, and a seven-gun salute was fired. The ceremony concluded with official songs of the armed forces following a special prayer related to the day. After the ceremony, President Muizzu met with and saluted those who had served in the armed forces for many years before retiring. The November 3rd Memorial Structure is a building inaugurated in 2012 to commemorate the sacrifices made in defence of the country on that day. It was designed to represent the barricade erected at the main centre of the armed forces to prevent terrorists from entering, with the view seen through the barricade symbolising the jihad performed by the armed forces in defence of the sovereignty of the Maldives.