The Government of Japan has donated anti-terrorism equipment to the Maldives as part of the grant aid for the Economic and Social Development Programme.
Minister of Defence Mariya Ahmed Didi accepted the equipment at a ceremony on April 28. The equipment includes heavy duty vehicles, mobile X-Ray scanners, liquid scanners, and hand-held metal detectors.
At the ceremony, Minister Mariya said the Government of the Maldives takes special priority in strengthening air travel safety as part of international security. The minister highlighted the importance of the equipment gifted by the Japanese government, in the fight against terrorism and extremist ideology, by improving screening and response times in order to prepare for and prevent attacks. She said gifting millions of dollars' worth of equipment to the Maldives shows that Japan remains a steadfast ally to the country.
The ceremony was participated by Ambassador of Japan Keiko Yanai, Chief of Defence Force Major General Abdulla Shamaal, Deputy Minister of Defence Hassan Zameel, as well as senior officers of Aviation Security Command.