President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced that the Maldives National Service Programme will be implemented every year starting in 2025 to increase the personnel at the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and the Maldives Police Service (MPS). The president made the remark while speaking at a ceremony held on Sunday on the occasion of Victory Day.
During his address, President Dr. Muizzu shared that the National Service Program will require 16-year-olds who have completed O-levels to participate in military training. He said the program will be implemented by passing a special law. He added that Maldivians above the age of 16 who are unable to continue their academic life due to various reasons after completing their secondary education and are not eligible for employment can be recruited to the Maldives National Service Programme and recruited to the MNDF or Police Service.
The president said the state budget will include MVR 400 million from next year onwards to implement the program. The state budget for next year, which has now been submitted for parliament approval, also earmarks this amount for the program.
The program aims to recruit 1,000 young people annually for the MNDF and 250 for the MPS over the next four years.
“Military training will offer valuable employment opportunities for youth, and will be beneficial for them, the military, and the country as a whole,” he said.
The President said the National Service Program will be conducted on the island designated for army training, Girifushi. He acknowledged that the condition of Girifushi has deteriorated over the years and confirmed that 13 hectares of the Girifushi lagoon will be dredged next year to increase available training space.
Stressing the need to bolster military strength, the President said the MNDF would receive additional weaponry with the assistance of allies next year.
