Victory Day (Maldives)

Victory Day is a public holiday in the Maldives, observed on November 3 each year. The holiday commemorates the victory of the attempted coup which aimed to overthrow President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in 1988.

Maumoon Abdul Gayoom became the President of the Maldives on November 11, 1978, and he was the second President after the Maldives gained its independence from the United Kingdom on July 26, 1965.

Three coups attempted to overthrow Gayoom and his government, although the first two, in 1980 and 1983, were not considered serious. In 1988, businessman Abdullah Luthufi led a group of Maldivians, with the support of armed mercenaries from the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam, to land in the capital Male.

The mercenaries quickly gained control of government buildings, radio stations, and other important facilities, but Maldivian National Security Advisor escorted President Gayoom to a safe house. He requested military intervention from several countries, such as Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Singapore, the United States, the United Kingdom, and India, but only India accepted his request.

On November 3, 1988, the Indian Army paratroopers arrived at Hulhule, immediately secured the airfield, and restored control to President Gayoom and the government in hours.

The following is the list of Victory Day in the Maldives from 2022 to 2026.

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