President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated Maldives Victory Day stands as a reminder of the importance of constantly protecting and maintaining national interests above anything else.
In his written address to the nation on the occasion of Victory Day, President Solih emphasised that Maldivians must always ensure the interests of the nation and the holy tenets of their faith are at the forefront of their priorities. The president also honoured the valour and heroism of martyred Maldivians who sacrificed their lives to protect national sovereignty and independence against armed foreign troops.
He recalled the bravery of Maldivian armed forces in the face of the brutal assault on the nation and said their courage made it possible for Maldivians to raise the flag as an independent state. He said that future generations should strive to embody the traits displayed by the brave soldiers on that day.
Speaking further, President Solih said the terrorist attack on the Maldives on November 3, 1988, was averted with the intrepid determination of Maldivian soldiers. The president additionally underscored the international community had come to the aid of the Maldives, extending gratitude to neighbouring India for their assistance to the Maldives on that day. He concluded his written address by underlining that emerging threats in the developing world can only be resisted by the nation standing together as one.
He encouraged the current and future generations to take their brave forefathers, such as Corporal Hussain Adam and other martyrs of the November 3 attack, as role models to stand against colonialist ideologies and attacks on religion or sovereignty.