President Muizzu Honours Security Personnel for High-Risk Vaavu Atoll Diving Operation

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has formally recognized members of the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) for their critical roles in a specialized diving operation conducted in Vaavu Atoll. The honors were presented during a ceremony held at Bandaara Koshi, where certificates of appreciation were awarded to the personnel. The event was attended by the Minister of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology, Ali Ihusaan, and the Minister of Defence and National Service, Hassan Rasheed, who both delivered messages of gratitude and encouragement to the officers. The recognition stems from a high-risk search and recovery mission launched in May after a group of Italian divers went missing in the waters of Vaavu Atoll. The operation was characterized by its complexity, requiring extensive coordination between multiple agencies and the deployment of specialized underwater expertise to locate the missing individuals. Also in attendance were Commissioner of Police Ahmed Mohamed and Chief of Defence Force Ibrahim Hilmy, alongside other senior leadership from the security services. The ceremony served not only as a reward for the individual officers but as a broader acknowledgement of the operational synergy between the police and the military during national emergencies. Following the ceremony, authorities emphasized the ongoing commitment to strengthening operational capabilities across specialized fields. Government officials noted a strategic focus on developing expertise in high-skill areas where trained personnel are currently limited, ensuring the Maldives is better equipped for future search and rescue missions in its vast maritime territory.