President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has conferred the National Award for Public Service on 106 public servants. The awards were presented at a special ceremony held to mark National Unity Day 2021 last night.
The National Award for Public Service is the most prestigious award conferred by the President on individuals who have been serving the nation for over 35 years and are observed as diligent and steadfast workers who have contributed towards the development of their respective fields.
Two of the recipients have served the public for over 50 years: Magistrate (Retired) Uz. Idrees Adam from Uligan Island of Haa Alifu Atoll and Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Saleem. Speaking at the function at Republic Square, President Solih extended his congratulations to the winners of the awards.
The recipients of the award were selected by the National Awards Committee, with 26 of the 106 recipients being women. The recipients include public servants who serve the nation in various capacities, including servicemen from the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), Maldives Police Service (MPS), and other uniformed services.
Due to a large number of recipients of the award this year, the government decided to confer the award on two occasions; 117 honourees received the awards on Republic Day, and the remaining 106 recipients were presented with the award tonight.
A minute of silence was also observed at the function in remembrance of the lives lost during the December 26, 2004, Indian Ocean tsunami disaster.
