The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has declared 18 February, Wednesday, as the first day of Ramadan.
The announcement was made at the official moon-sighting ceremony held on February 17 to confirm the start of the month.
At the ceremony, State Minister of Islamic Affairs, Al-Ustaz Abdullah Saudhaan said as reliable astronomical calculations have shown that the moon is visible to the Maldives and other large Islamic countries, and as reliable sources have confirmed that the moon has been sighted in some Islamic countries, 18 February will be the first day of Ramadan for the current lunar year. This declaration is consistent with the rules for proving the moon of Ramadan and Shawwal in the Maldives, he said.
Following the announcement, the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF)’s firing squad marked the start of Ramadan with a ceremonial firing.
Both the government and private sector have planned activities to revive and celebrate Ramadan.