Minister of Defence Mariya Ahmed Didi has stated the progress seen in the Maldivian military service was made possible by the policies of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
The defence minister made the statement while speaking at the ceremony to mark the 129th anniversary of Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF). Those at the ceremony included President Solih, Chief of Defence Force Major General Abdulla Shamaal, and other top government officials and military officers of all ranks.
In her speech, Minister Mariya commended the work to improve military capabilities, train officers abroad, and create gender equality within the MNDF. The defence minister also praised officers for taking part in training opportunities in other countries and achieving gold medals and other acclaims and said MNDF is a professional fighting-fit force that is prepared to serve citizens anywhere in the country. She notedfemale officers now have more opportunities, including the opportunity to achieve the top ranks in the military, which will ensure that female voices are included when making decisions in the MNDF leadership.
Highlighting the achievements of female officers, Minister Mariya said a female officer has achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel for the first time in the military history of the Maldives, and a female officer has also achieved the Best International Student at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the UK. She said the significant improvements in MNDF is possible due to the policies of the Commander-in-Chief President Solih, and the support of the military leadership, including Chief of Defence Force Major General Abdulla Shamaal.