President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has expressed gratitude to India for its unbiased assistance to the Maldives. He made the remarks while speaking at the ceremony to inaugurate the College of Policing and Law Enforcement in Addu City.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Solih highlighted the assistance provided by India directly benefits Maldivians by contributing to projects such as the development of Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), the establishment of the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Studies at the Maldives National University (MNU), the development water and sewerage networks in 34 islands, and the Greater Male’ Connectivity Project (GMCP).
Furthermore, President Solih said India continues to provide assistance to the Maldives regardless of which government or political party is in power. The president noted that the police academy in Addu was established with assistance from India. He said the Maldives and India first began discussions to establish a police academy in 2009, and that the previous government had decided to establish the academy in Addu, with fieldwork being initiated in 2017. He also noted the academy was built with efforts from previous governments and the leadership of former presidents Abdulla Yameen, Dr. Mohamed Waheed, and Mohamed Nasheed.
Additionally, President Solih said providing police services in all inhabited islands is a high-priority pledge of the administration, as a strong police service is key to maintaining peace and prosperity in any country. He expressed hope the newly established police academy will be an important contributor to providing excellent police services to citizens.