The navy ship "Dharumavantha" donated by Türkiye to the Maldives has been officially handed over to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and commissioned into its fleet.
The handover and commissioning ceremony took place at the Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) area in Hulhumale’. The ceremony was graced by the President, and Commander-in-Chief of MNDF, Dr Mohamed Muizzu.
The vessel was formally handed over by Turkish Navy Fleet Commander Admiral Kadir Yildiz to the Chief of Defence Force, Major General Hilmy, who accepted it on behalf of the MNDF. A certificate of appreciation was also presented to the Turkish Government by the Maldives.
During the ceremony, President Dr Muizzu unveiled the vessel’s name, viewed a video presentation, and signed the ship’s guest book. The national flag and the letter of service commencement were received by the vessel’s Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Hassan Shinan.
Dharumavantha is the largest vessel ever acquired by the MNDF and represents a major advancement in the Maldives’ defence capabilities. It reinforces the nation’s role as a responsible member of the international community, committed to safeguarding security in the Indian Ocean region.
 
To mark its commissioning, a special drill was held on board the vessel by MNDF.
Speaking at the ceremony, Commander Admiral Kadir Yildiz said he hopes military ties between the Maldives and Türkiye will be further strengthened in the future. The vessel symbolises the close relationship between both countries, he added.
The Ministry of Defence in April this year announced the Turkish government’s decision to donate a Doğan-class naval ship to the Maldives to support maritime security operations in Maldivian waters.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the donation of the naval ship is the direct result of President and the Commander-in-Chief of the MNDF, Mohamed Muizzu’s efforts to strengthen relations with friendly nations and advance his goal of doubling the National Coast Guard’s capacity.
The introduction of this vessel into the service will significantly help the Maldives to fulfil its role as a responsible member of the international community in ensuring the security and safety of the Maldivian waters as well as the wider Indian Ocean region. The Ministry described the acquisition as an important step forward in ensuring that the members of the Defence Force are capable and competent in this capacity, in line with the goal set out by the President.
President Muizzu has prioritised the protection of the freedom, sovereignty, and independence of the Maldives since taking office. From the first day he took office, he began implementing policies to uphold these principles. Shortly after taking office, he inaugurated the MNDF Air Corps and introduced unmanned aerial vehicles. The Air Corps of the National Defence Force has also brought into service Turkish-made Bayraktar model unmanned combat aerial vehicles.