Maldives National Defence Force
| Maldives National Defence Force |
|
|---|---|
Maldives National Defence Force emblem
|
|
| Service branches |
Coast Guard |
| Headquarters | Bandaara Koshi |
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces | Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom |
| Minister of Defence and National Security | Adam Shareef |
| Chief of Defence Force | Major General Ahmed Shiyam |
| Expenditures | |
| Budget | $45m (ranked 131st) |
| Percent of GDP | 5.5% (2005 est.) |
Coast Guard
Marine Corps
Special Forces
Service corps
The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) is the combined security organisation responsible for defending the security and sovereignty of the Maldives, having the primary task of being responsible for attending to all internal and external security needs of the Maldives, including the protection of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and the maintenance of peace and security.
Hagubeykalun the first known reference to the Maldivian defenders dates back prior to the reign of Sultan Al-Gazi Mohamed Thakurufaan. Here the three bearers of high office designated as Maafaiy, Faamuladheyri, and Dhaharaadha were responsible for organising the security of the country.
Sultan Al-Gazi Mohamed Thakurufaan reorganised the existing security force at that time and appointed a "Dhoshimeynaa Wazir" (a Minister) as the head of the security force.
The origin of the current security force can be traced from the initiatives of Sultan Ibrahim Nooraddeen Iskandhar who reigned from 1888 to 1892. The Sultan was impressed by a group of young men practicing marching in step while they were at the Sultans Palace to learn a traditional form of martial arts. The Sultan gave his blessings to their new drill and facilitated their training. The group of men thereafter began to accompany the Sultan on his ceremonial processions.
During Sultan Ibrahim Nooraddeen Iskandhar's brief reign, he enlisted selected youths and taught them Hevikan (a Maldivian form of martial arts) and made them participate in royal ceremonies. On 21 April 1892, a new security force was established by a royal decree. The Sultan became the Commander-in-Chief of the security force. This new force was authorised to carry arms and the Palace afforded special privileges to them.
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Wikipedia