Republic Day (Maldives)

Republic Day is a public holiday in the Maldives, observed on November 11 each year. The holiday commemorates the end of the monarchy and the establishment of the Republic of the Maldives in 1968.

The Maldives had cultural and economic ties with its nearest neighbors, Sri Lanka and India, for centuries before the arrival of the Europeans. Since the 16th century, the Portuguese, the Dutch, and the French successively took over the islands.

On December 16, 1887, Maldives officially became a British protectorate. The British Empire controlled the Maldives' foreign policy, but the Maldives got military protection and internal administration.

In line with the broader British decolonization policy, on July 26, 1965, Maldives signed an agreement with the United Kingdom and gained its independence. The sultanate continued for another three years.

In November 1967, most parliament members voted in favor of a republic. In March 1968, a national referendum was held, and 93% of voters favored the establishment of a republic. The republic was declared on November 11, 1968.

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

Please check more public holidays in the Maldives: