President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has decided to present the National Awards on the National Day starting from this year.

The President’s Office said that the decision was made since the National Award to celebrate and support national service and is more appropriate to give the award on the National Day.

When the award was originally introduced in 1979 by President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the award was given on Independence Day celebration function.

The National Award Committee has decided that the nomination period for this year’s award closes on 10 June.

The Committee has already made the decision on the main categories and consulted the relevant authorities. The President’s Office said that the Committee is now working on making the necessary changes to the award regulations.