New regulation requires permit to hoist national flag

A new regulation has been made that requires a special permit from the Home Ministry to hoist the Maldivian national flag at private places.

The regulation published on the Gazette today separates locations where the flag is up 24-hours a day and the places raising the flag from 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. And any other place raising the national flag requires a permit from the Home Ministry according to the publication.

Places that require the national flag raised 24 hours a day according to the new regulation:

• President’s Office

• Official Residence of the President

• Official Residence of the Vice President

• Parliament

• Supreme Court of the Maldives

• Headquarters of the Maldives National Defence Force

• Headquarters of the Maldives Police Service

• Offices of the City, Atoll and Island Councils

• Any other building deemed by the government

The regulation says that the places where the flag is raised at night, the national flag must be lit in appropriate lighting.

Places that require the national flag be raised from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.:

• State institutes

• Government offices and companies

• Offices of political parties registered at the Elections Commission

The new regulation on the use of the national flag does not prohibit the use of the flag on national commemorations and displays of national unity along with public demonstrations and gatherings.

However the use of the flag of the President or a flag that closely resemble the flag is prohibited from use by anyone other than the President. The President’s flag is the national flag with a five-strand star inside the crescent moon.

The new regulation on the use of the flag was made to ensure the sanctity of the national flag according to the Home Ministry.