Government offices instructed not to use worn out, damaged national flags

Government offices and institutions, on Monday, has been instructed not use worn out or damaged flags which can be considered disrespectful towards the national flag of Maldives.

The instructions were laid down in a directive issued by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih earlier today.

His directive strictly forbade sacrilegious treatment or any other action that could desecrate the national flag and display damaged, defiled, faded or substandard flags.

The directive also specified that size of the flags displayed on the premises of government offices and institutions and during ceremonial events.

It also states that offices and institutions should display the flag at all times and those that should hoist the flag from 6:00am to 6:00pm. In this regard. President’s Office, Official Residence of the President, Official Residence of the Vice President, Headquarters of Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF), Headquarters of Maldives Police Service (MPS) and government offices and institutions providing services 24 hours will be required to display the flag at all times. Government offices and situations apart from these five are mandated to hoist the flag from 6:00am to 6:00pm.

The directive also outlines guidelines on displaying the national flag beside another flag. In this regard, if another flag is hoisted along with the national flag, the national flag must be on the right side of the direction the flags are facing at all times.

The directive will not be applicable to use of flags during instances where leaders of foreign nations are traveling to the Maldives.

In 2017, Home Ministry had formulated and publicized a regulation that required a special permit from the ministry to hoist the national flag of Maldives at private properties. The regulation was met with much outcry from the opposition back then, citing it was targeted towards them.