Defence Ministry conducts a news conference to brief their 4 months

Ministry of Defence and National Security has conducted a news conference to reveal its achievements during the past four months. In the news conference held at the Coast Guard Building, information was given by the Minister of Defence and National Security Mohamed Nazim.

At this news conference, information was given to the media on key 10 areas including efforts taken to protect national security, the Ministry’s tasks, its strategic level activities, MNDF Coast Guard’s activities, Fire and Rescue Service’s activities, public relation programs conducted under the Ministry and the ongoing effort to upgrade the welfare of MNDF. Moreover, information was given on recruitment of MNDF, aviation security work carried out by MNDF and the services of the Disaster Management Center.

Talking about the national security contributions of MNDF, the Minister highlighted that a series of surveillance operations via sea and air are being carried out jointly with the Indian Navy in order to prevent the activities of piracy in the Indian Ocean. He also revealed the number of surveillance operations, the area searched during all the operations and the expenses of the operations.

Highlighting on the strategic level activities of the Ministry, he pointed on the effort carried out to enhance the close relationship with other countries, the training programs conducted jointly with other nations and the installment of radar stations with the assistance of Indian government to improve the maritime domain awareness and to protect the EEZ of Maldives. He also highlighted on the services of the MNDF Hospital that has started recently, and the effort to provide close protection and security for the VVIPs visiting Maldives.

The Minister also gave information on the work done to enhance the close military relations with other countries and to obtain assistance from foreign countries to upgrade the human resources of MNDF. He further talked on the services provided by the Coast Guard in maritime distress situations, the firefighting service provided by the Fire and Rescue Service and the work that is being carried out to extend the reach of services throughout the Maldives in the future.

Additionally, he stressed on the public relations activities that are being carried out by the MNDF. This include Futsal Playgrounds construction project, series of swimming instruction programs, multimedia programs, programs to reduce bats and crows in the islands, awareness programs, programs to clean out the lagoons, school cadet training programs, mosquito reduction programs, environmental prevention programs etc.

The Minister also answered questions forwarded to him by the media officials.