Regional/Cultural Day
National Heroes Day
A day honoring the heroes of Maldivian history, with a special focus on Muhammad Thakurufaanu (the liberator from Portuguese rule), Sultan Mohamed Shamsuddeen III (the last sultan, who modernized the country), and the unnamed heroes of the 1988 coup defense. The day includes a wreath-laying ceremony at the National Heroes Monument in Malé, school programs on Maldivian history, and a national address by the president. The concept of heroism in the Maldives is tied to sovereignty : the heroes are those who defended the nation's independence, whether against the Portuguese in 1573, the British in the 20th century, or the mercenaries in 1988.
