President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has recognised and honoured members of the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) who participated in the special diving operation conducted in Vaavu Atoll.
A ceremony to acknowledge the efforts of the personnel was held at Bandaara Koshi on behalf of the President. The event was attended by Ministerof Homeland Security, Labour and Technology, Ali Ihusaan, and Minister of Defence and National Service, Hassan Rasheed.
During the ceremony, certificates of appreciation were presented on behalf of President Muizzu in recognition of the contributions made by personnel involved in the operation.
The ministers also conveyed messages of appreciation and encouragement to the officers who took part in the mission.
Among those in attendance were Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Mohamed, Chief of Defence Force, Ibrahim Hilmy, and senior officers from both the Maldives Police Service and the MNDF.
Authorities noted that the security services continue to strengthen their operational capabilities across a range of specialised fields, with particular emphasis on developing expertise in areas where trained personnel are limited.
The recognition follows the high-risk search and recovery operation carried out in Vaavu Atoll after a group of Italian divers went missing while diving in the area in May.
Personnel from the police and MNDF were involved in the complex underwater operation to locate the missing divers, which required specialised diving expertise and extensive coordination between multiple agencies.