Speaking to the public, President Solih extended greetings and well wishes to the Maldivian people on the occasion of the Maldives’ Independence Day.

 

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated that the strengthening of friendly relations and multilateral ties with the global community is vital to the sustenance of our independence. He said that the Maldives was able to secure the Presidency of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) due to our policy of strengthening connections while respecting the sovereignty and selective boundaries of independence of other nations. He made these remarks in a televised address to the nation on the Maldives' 56th Anniversary of Independence.

 

The President highlighted that despite the actions of some radical groups promoting extremist views amongst us, these radical views contradict the belief of Islam. He called upon the people to unite and stand up against these groups.

 

Highlighting the efforts of the government in containing the spread of Covid-19 in the country, President Solih spoke on the preparations being undertaken by the Administration to initiate a large-scale Covid-19 vaccination programme. He said that the programme aims to inoculate 90 per cent of the eligible population residing in the Maldives by the end of August. The programme would continue until every resident completes their vaccine doses. Announcing that the Maldives has enough vaccine stock for the unvaccinated population to receive both doses, the President urged the public to make use of this opportunity to get vaccinated.