The Heritage Ministry has announced that the National Museum will now be open to the public on Saturdays as well. 

Previously, the National Museum was only open on official working days. 

At a press conference held at the President's Office, Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Heena Waleed stated that the changes are being brought in response to requests from the public to extend the opening hours of the museum. 

To allow more people to visit the museum, it will be open from 10am to 4pm every Saturday from May 18 onwards, Heena announced. 

She added that work is underway to make the administrative changes needed to open the museum on weekday nights as well. Once these changes are in place, the museum will remain open until around 10pm on weeknights, she said. 

The changes will come into effect on International Museum Day, marked annually on May 18 by the International Council of Museums.

The first National Museum in Maldives was opened by then Minister of Interior and Foreign Affairs Mohamed Ameen on November 19, 1952. 

The foundation for the building which now houses the National Museum was laid by former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, although it was officially opened during the administration of former President Mohamed Nasheed.