President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has laid out a sweeping vision to break the nation free from longstanding constraints and secure genuine independence across every front, from social freedom to economic self-reliance and lasting development. At the heart of that vision, he said, lies an unprecedented drive to place Maldivians themselves at the centre of national life. He delivered the address this morning at the official ceremony marking the 61st Independence Day of the Maldives.
The President opened by saluting recipients of national honours and those recognised for long years of service to the State. Marking Independence Day in this way, he said, honours the dedication, professionalism and public service that must inspire generations to come.
This year’s honourees, he noted, have shown integrity, honesty, loyalty, diligence, sincerity, patience and unwavering commitment throughout their careers. Those same qualities, he said, have always stood at the core of the nation’s independence, and he urged every Maldivian to carry them into daily life.
Putting the People at the Centre
In a striking commitment to shared national leadership, the President announced the creation of a Presidential Advisory Council drawn from recipients of national honours, ensuring the country’s most accomplished figures have a direct hand in shaping its future. He paired the move with plans for a National Advisory Council of experts and scholars to guide the Administration on the issues that matter most.
The President reserved some of his strongest words for young people and women, pledging the legislative reforms needed to widen their voice and deepen their role in the lawmaking process. Independence, he made clear, means little unless it belongs to everyone.
Redefining What Independence Means
For President Dr Muizzu, sovereignty runs far beyond borders and ceremony. True independence, he said, is measured in social freedom, in an economy that stands on its own, and in development that endures. He pointed to the ground already gained under his Administration and set out a long-term course to strengthen the nation on all three counts.
On housing, long one of the country’s most stubborn challenges, the President was emphatic. His Administration, he vowed, intends to become the first in the nation’s history to launch, complete and hand over housing projects within a single presidential term, an achievement no predecessor has matched.
He was equally firm on the economy, renewing his promise to tear down the barriers holding back industrial and commercial self-reliance. In a landmark announcement, he confirmed that the Malé Commercial Port will be relocated in full to K. Thilafushi by 11 November 2027, under complete Government ownership and management, clearing the way for the national economy to grow.
Closing his address, the President turned to the horizon, setting out his vision for where the country will stand by 26 July 2028 and reaffirming a determination to carry the Maldives toward lasting progress and prosperity.
