The National Awards Committee has announced that 66 individuals will be honoured with the prestigious National Award for Public Service during this year’s official Independence Day ceremony.
The announcement follows a special initiative by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu to identify and celebrate state employees who have dedicated over 41 years to public service but have not yet received formal recognition.
While the State has historically focused on honoring those with more than 42 years of service, this year’s cohort broadens the scope to ensure that a wider range of veteran contributors are acknowledged for their lifelong commitment to the nation.
To ensure transparency and merit, the President’s Office conducted an extensive verification of service records for all nominees. These records were then submitted to the National Awards Committee, which performed a final review to confirm that each recipient met the strict eligibility criteria required for the honour.
The committee reported a high level of interest in the program, receiving a total of 130 applications by the 11 June deadline. From this pool, 66 individuals were selected for their exceptional tenure and unblemished service records.
Successful nominees will be honoured with a shield, a distinctive badge of honour, and a commemorative certificate, all of which will be presented in a formal ceremony presided over by the President.
The award represents one of the highest forms of recognition available to public servants in the Maldives.