Victory Day (Maldives)

On 3 November 1988, an attempted coup was launched against the Maldivian government, then headed by President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. The coup involved Maldivian dissidents working with the People's Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), a Tamil militant group from Sri Lanka. Early in the morning, around 80 mercenaries infiltrated Malé, the capital of the Maldives, seizing strategic government buildings and communication centers in an attempt to capture President Gayoom, assassinate him and overthrow his administration.^[1]

President Gayoom, evading capture, reached out to nearby countries for assistance. India responded promptly by initiating Operation Cactus, deploying its military forces to the Maldives.^[2] Indian troops arrived in Malé within hours, successfully overpowering the mercenaries and reestablishing control, bringing the coup attempt to a swift end.^[3]

Victory Day was subsequently designated on November 3 to commemorate the defence of Maldivian sovereignty.^[4] The day honors those who safeguarded the nation's independence and underscores the importance of unity and security in the face of external threats.^[5]

• The president of the Maldives addresses the nation^[6]
• Flag hoisting
• Awarding ceremonies
• Military display activities