The Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology has announced that 'Operation Kurangi,' aimed at collecting data on expatriates living in the Maldives, will be expanded to all areas of the country this month. The operation expansion is scheduled to commence on July 18.
Pilot programmes for 'Operation Kurangi' have already been conducted on Maafushi Island and Himmafushi Island in Kaafu Atoll. Based on the experience, the ministry is coordinating with island councils, the Maldives Police Service, and the Department of National Registration to facilitate the project, recognizing that a collaborative effort is necessary for its success.
Deputy Minister Ashraf Mohamed disclosed that special training sessions for island councils will be held from July 18 to July 20 to prepare for the project's implementation. Additionally, the ministry is working to establish the necessary resources, including devices capable of collecting and storing biometric information on expatriates.
Ashraf highlighted that the pilot programmes revealed the potential for expatriates to relocate to other islands to avoid being documented if the project were conducted on different islands at separate times. To mitigate this issue, the project will be launched simultaneously across all islands, ensuring comprehensive data collection without allowing expatriates the opportunity to evade the system.
The administration is committed to addressing the issue of illegal immigration by establishing a robust system for collecting and maintaining information on foreigners residing in the Maldives. Additionally, a major operation has been launched to ensure that no expatriates live in the Maldives without a Maldivian sponsor responsible for their presence in the country.