Former DCP Rishwan appointed as MPL’s new MD

Former deputy commissioner of police Mohamed Rishwan has been appointed as the new managing director of Maldives Ports Limited (MPL).

The Privatization and Corporatization Board (PCB) confirmed Rishwan was appointed to the role on Wednesday.

މޯލްޑިވްސް ޕޯޓްސް ލިމިޓެޑްގެ މެނޭޖިން ޑިރެކްޓަރު ކަމުގެ މަޤާމަށާއި ބޯޑު ޑިރެކްޓަރު ކަމުގެ މަޤާމަށް ހ. ހަބަރުގެ، އަލްފާޟިލް މުޙައްމަދު ރިޝްވާނު، މިއަދު ވަނީ އައްޔަނުކުރެވިފައެވެ.

— Privatization & Corporatization Board (@pcb_gov) February 5, 2025

Rishwan previously served in both the military and the police. He was ranked deputy commissioner of police when he retired from the police force in 2011 during former president Mohamed Nasheed’s administrating citing that he wishes “to start my own business.”

After he left the police force, he also served as the deputy CEO of the Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) in 2015.

Rishwan replaces Mohamed Wajeeh, who was dismissed on February 2.

Wajeeh has been appointed to head the MPL on November 28, 2023.

While the government has not specified the reason for his dismissal, it came at the heels of the dismissal of Ibrahim Faisal from the role of tourism minister.

Wajeeh is an in-law of Faisal's father Abdul Raheem Abdulla, the speaker of Parliament and chairperson of the ruling People's National Congress (PNC).

Both dismissals followed monthslong rumors of friction between the top leaders of the ruling party – President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and Abdul Raheem – once seen as his most powerful ally, having played an instrumental role in his successful 2023 presidential campaign.