President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom on Saturday evening inaugurated Velana International Airport at a ceremony held in Hulhulé.
MNDF sounded a bugle call to welcome the President on his arrival at Hulhulé. During the ceremony, the President lit the signboard of Velana International Airport, officially inaugurating the airport.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Economic Development Mohamed Saeed said the Government had spent over US$1 billion on the expansion and development of the airport over the past three years.
The ceremony also saw the handing over of the Aerodrome licence of Velana International Airport to Maldives Airports Company Limited by Maldives Civil Aviation Authority.
Ibrahim Nasir International Airport was renamed Velana International Airport in line with efforts by the administration to make the airport a gateway for future development and growth, according to the Government.
A flight operated by the national carrier Maldivian was the first to touch down at Velana International Airport.
The ceremony was attended by Minister of Tourism Moosa Zameer and senior officials of Maldives Airports Company Limited and Maldives Civil Aviation Authority.
The rebranding and name change of the airport was announced by the President last week. The President announced the decision after a cabinet meeting focusing on the transformation of the airport in line with the administration's economic vision.
First developed pursuant to a deceleration on May 1, 1964, the establishment of an airport proved significant in developing and cementing several key foreign relations while also enhancing the country's economy. With the active involvement of a large number of public, the then Prime Minister Sumuvvul Ameer Ibrahim Nasir Rannabandeyrikilegefaanu played a critical role in realising the airport.
With the rebranding, the airport is referred to as "Velana International Airport". While concise "Velana" is also a reference to former Prime Minister Sumuvvul Ameer Ibrahim Nasir Rannabandeyrikilegefaanu.