President: Police college in Addu is a symbol of India’s goodwill

Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said Tuesday that the National College of Policing and Law Enforcement opened in the southern city of Addu was a symbol of neighboring India’s goodwill. 

He made the remark at the ceremony held on Tuesday evening to celebrate Maldives Police Service’s 89th anniversary. 

In his speech, President Solih said that the National College of Policing and Law Enforcement would be one of the most important centers for Maldives to develop capabilities to defend the safety and protection of Maldivians and protect national interests. 

“This is a symbol which shows neighboring India has goodwill towards Maldives enjoying its individuality. I thank all the governments that came before that worked towards this,” he said. 

President Solih said his administration was working to expand police services across Maldives, and would be establishing stations and posts in 25 new islands this year. 

“By 2023, we will, God willing, have Maldives Police Service in all inhabited islands of Maldives,” he said. 

Addressing the delay in completion of the construction of housing units for police and military personnel, President Solih said that the police housing project had been awarded to a new contractor under Planning Ministry’s management. He said that work on the units was expected to be complete by the end of this year. 

Noting that the police had begun the use of bodycams this year, President Solih said that it would increase the transparency of police investigations and make police more responsible. 

He also said that police, along with healthcare workers and military, deserved praise for their service during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“The calm we enjoy now is the result of the hard work of you all and the public. I thank and commend you for that,” he said.