President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has designated next week’s Sunday as a public holiday.

The President’s Office said the decision was made in response to a request submitted by the Elections Commission of the Maldives, in light of Saturday, September 30th, being the designated voting day of the second round for the 2023 Presidential Elections.

In this regard, they detailed that officials from government offices and institutions and members of the general public are anticipated to be engaged with assignments and tasks related to the election and voting process.

While the first round of the election was held on September 9th – the two days that followed September 9th had also been declared public holidays. 

Wednesday was a public holiday as it fell on 12th day of the Islamic month of Rabi' al-awwal; Prophet Muhammed’s Eid-e-Milad an-Nabi, in other words, the date of his birth, which is also known as Mawlid. Today was declared a public holiday to align with the list of government holidays for the year 2023, announced on December 8, 2022.

Lots of people are traveling out of Male’ with the extended number of public holidays coinciding with the election.