The National Awards Committee has announced that the National Award for Public Service will be conferred on 66 individuals at the official Independence Day ceremony this year.
The decision follows President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's initiative to honour individuals who have rendered more than 41 years of service to the State but have not previously received recognition.
The President's Office obtained and verified the nominees' service records before submitting them to the committee. The recipients were subsequently selected after a review to determine that they fulfilled the criteria for the award.
The President annually submits nominations to the committee to recognise long-serving individuals. To date, the State has honoured individuals with more than 42 years of public service.
The National Awards Committee received 130 applications by the deadline of 11 June 2026. The award will be conferred on the individuals who satisfy the eligibility criteria at the official Republic Day ceremony.