Members of the Maldives United Opposition has decided to boycott presidential address and commencement of local parliament for 2018 at Dharubaaruge on Wednesday night.
Prime voice of the opposition, Jumhooree Party deputy leader and Kin'bidhoo MP Abdulla Riyaz said the opposition has boycotted Wednesday night's ceremony.
Their reason for boycotting the ceremony was the restriction of reinstated and currently jailed lawmakers from attending parliament sitting, according to MP Riyaz.
Another reason for boycotting the ceremony is due to the presence of parliament Speaker Abdulla Maseeh, who the opposition refuse to acknowledge as a legitimate authority since they had actively presented a no-confidence motion to the floor earlier in 2017 - although it never proceeded ahead.
Wednesday night's ceremony will take place at Rannaban'deyri Hall of Dharubaaruge.
