PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – The Haitian government plans a low-key ceremony today for the third anniversary of the earthquake that devastated the country and killed hundreds of thousands of people.

President Michel Martelly will preside over a subdued memorial on the grounds of the former National Palace, which was destroyed in the disaster and later demolished. Senior government officials and diplomats are expected to attend.

Martelly said he hopes the poor Caribbean nation’s people use the anniversary of the Jan. 12, 2010, disaster to think about how they can improve their lives.