US extends continuous assistance to Maldives Police

United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives Michele J. Sison has said that good relations have been established between Maldives Police and the US, and that the US will continue to assist and cooperate with Maldives Police.

Speaking at a ceremony held to mark the end of a training program provided by the US to Maldives Police on combating terrorism, Sison said that the US has provided assistance to Maldives Police since 2011.

She noted that the US assists Maldives in environmental protection, works with the civil society to strengthen democracy, works with businessmen to strengthen the economy; and said that the Police are responsible for providing protection to all these groups.

She stressed the importance of respect for human rights when providing Police services, and said that this is part of the training provided by the US to Maldives Police.

Sison said that all countries face the threat of terrorism, and that countries must cooperate to eliminate such threats before terrorists are able to attack them.

She said that the US will assist and cooperate with Maldives in fighting piracy and ensuring harbour security.

Minister of Home Affairs Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed highlighted in his speech the importance of returning criminals who have been released on various occasions, back to serving their sentences; and said that Maldives is in need of assistance in the area of execution of sentences.

Dr Jameel said that the judicial sector of Maldives has undergone reform, and that Police have to base their work on experience and education in order to build public confidence.