The Government of Japan has handed over eight vessels to the Maldives Police Service under its Economic and Social Development Programme, aimed at enhancing the country’s maritime security and policing capacity.
In a ceremony held in Malé, the Ambassador of Japan to the Maldives, Her Excellency Ishigami Rumiko, officially presented five launch vessels and three rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs) to the police.
The donation is part of a broader initiative signed in May 2022 through an Exchange of Notes between the two governments. Valued at 650 million Japanese Yen (approximately USD 5.1 million or MVR 78.6 million), the grant seeks to promote the Maldives’ economic and social development by strengthening law enforcement operations at sea.
According to the Japanese government, the new vessels will help the Maldives Police Service respond swiftly and effectively to maritime incidents, improve safety in the outer islands, and expand everyday policing capabilities across the nation’s dispersed geography.
Japan expressed its hope that the support would contribute to greater security and efficiency in policing Maldivian waters, while reinforcing the long-standing partnership between the two countries.
