March 31, 1979 is remembered in the Maltese calendar as Freedom Day (Maltese: Jum il-Ħelsien). This is the anniversary of the withdrawal of British troops and the Royal Navy from Malta. The government of the day alleged that the military base was closed after the United Kingdom refused to pay the emphyteusis due to Malta in 1979; however, the contract between Malta and the United Kingdom was due for termination on April 1, 1979.
A monument on the Birgu (Vittoriosa) waterfront commemorates this event in the history of the nation.
