President and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Mohamed Nasheed, has today inaugurated the Coast Guard Training School and Marine Corps Training School of Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) established in Lhaviyani Atoll Maafilaafushi.
In the inaugural address, President Nasheed underlined the need to promote knowledge and skills of sea in the Maldives to ensure the country’s development and security.
He said, in addition to sea being 99 percent the entire area of the country, sea and resources from sea have also being providing the wealth of the country.
He added that the two largest industries of the country, tourism and fishing, depended on the richness of seas.
Therefore, he said a properly and efficiently functioning coast guard was vital to develop and sustain the major industries that uphold for the country’s economy, and noted that it was a duty of every leader of the country to provide training and facilities necessary for the coast guard.
Noting that the arrangements were being finalized to enlist Maldivian soldiers in international peacekeeping forces, the President said this amplified the importance of two training schools inaugurated today.
The President and Commander-in-Chief praised the role of MNDF in maintaining the security of the country and their services to the people of the country.
The President arrived in Maafilaafushi this afternoon to attend the ceremony. Vice President Dr Mohamed Waheed also attended the ceremony.
Before returning to Male’, the President will visit Lhaviyani Atoll Hinnavaru and Naifaru and meet the Island Councils of both islands.
