The President’s Office held the fourth lecture of the Executive Development Programme (EDP) 2025–2027 at the Islamic Centre conference hall, with participants from government ministries and institutions in attendance.
The lecture was delivered by Sheikh Dr Ilyas Hussain, who spoke on the virtues of Ramadan, the importance of fulfilling responsibilities with integrity, maximising the spiritual benefits of the holy month, and reforming personal conduct and interpersonal relations.
Dr Ilyas highlighted Ramadan as a month of mercy and forgiveness, noting that the ultimate purpose of fasting is the attainment of taqwa, or piety. He stressed that fasting should be observed with sincerity and discipline that extend beyond physical abstinence.
Referring to the revelation of the Holy Quran during Ramadan, he encouraged increased Quran recitation and greater engagement in tahajjud prayers throughout the month.
Concluding his remarks, Dr Ilyas emphasised that sincerity, integrity and honesty are essential for the acceptance of good deeds, adding that consistent righteous conduct during Ramadan helps foster positive behaviour throughout the year.
At the end of the session, National Security Advisor Ibrahim Latheef presented Dr Ilyas with a commemorative certificate on behalf of the President’s Office.
The Executive Development Programme is led by the Political Appointees Performance Management Unit at the Political Affairs Office, in collaboration with the Civil Service Training Institute and the Foreign Service Institute of Maldives and is scheduled to run over a two-year period.