Australia-Maldives Defence co-operation in response to COVID-19

On 28 July the Australian High Commissioner to Maldives David Holly and Australian Defence Adviser Group Captain Sean Unwin handed over Australian supplied Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, HE Omar Abdul Razzak, and Lieutenant Colonel Ismail Naseer, Defence Adviser to the High Commission of the Republic of Maldives in Sri Lanka.

At the handover ceremony, High Commissioner Holly said “Australia expresses solidarity with Maldives as we both face the impacts of the global COVID-19 crisis together. As a longstanding friend, Australia is pleased to help Maldives counter COVID-19 by providing this equipment to protect those on the frontline”. 

High Commissioner Omar expressed sincere appreciation for the generosity of donating PPE equipment provided by the Australian Department of Defence to the Maldives National Defence Force in its efforts to combat COVID-19, also thanked the Government of Australia for the continued cooperation and friendly relations with Maldives at all times.

The PPE consisted of 12,000 high quality coveralls and 200,000 gloves with a value of $120,000, manufactured in Sri Lanka by Australian company Ansell, and will support Maldives’ efforts to minimise further transmission of COVID-19. 

As Indian Ocean neighbours, Australia and Maldives share a long and warm bilateral relationship. Events to mark 45 years of relations in 2019 included the visit to Maldives of HMAS Ballarat in July and the visit to Australia by Minister for Defence Uza. Mariya Ahmed Didi in November 2019. Australia looks forward to continue working with Maldives as an Indo-Pacific partner.