MALTA

The Republic of Malta Repubblika Ta’ Malta CAPITAL: Valletta FLAG: The national flag consists of two equal vertical stripes, white at the hoist and red at the fly, with a representation of the Maltese Cross, edged with red, in the canton of the white stripe. ANTHEM: L’Innu Malti (The Maltese Hymn). MONETARY UNIT: The Maltese lira (LM) consists of 100 cents, with each cent divided into 10 mils. There are coins of 2, 3, and 5 mils and of 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, and 50 cents, and notes of 2, 5, 10, and 20 lira. Gold and silver coins of 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, and 100 lira also are in circulation. ML1 = $2.5 (or $1 = M0.40; as of April 2003). WEIGHTS AND MEASURES: The metric system is the legal standard, but some local measures are still in use. HOLIDAYS: New Year’s Day, 1 January; National Day, 31 March; May Day, 1 May; Assumption, 15 August; Republic Day, 13 December; Christmas, 25 December. Movable holidays include Good Friday. TIME: 1PM = noon GMT.