Victory Day is a permanent reminder of India's assistance to the Maldives, former President Abdulla Yameen said yesterday.

Victory Day is celebrated on November 3 every year to commemorate the foiled coup attempt of 1988.

At least 19 people were martyred in the attacks, including eight soldiers. The Indian military thwarted the attack by a Sri Lankan militant group and some Maldivians.

In a post on social media X, Yameen said, "Today is a permanent reminder of the support of neighbouring India to the Maldives."

But the former President had previously criticised India for the November 3 attack. He said the rebels could not enter the Maldives without India's knowledge.

"They can't come here without them noticing. They can't even leave Ceylon without them noticing. And they travelled 18 hours or more from Ceylon to Maldives. Maldives asked India for help and the air force was mobilized within a short time. Is this a coincidence? This is no coincidence," Yameen claimed.

Yameen and the current President Mohamed Muizzu ran the India Out campaign during the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.