National Security Services Committee seeks defence contracts between India & Maldives

Parliament's Security Services Committee chair, North Hithadhoo MP Mohamed Aslam (C) | Photo: Majlis

Malé, Maldives – The Parliament’s National Security Services Committee (241 Committee) ha initiated the process of obtaining Uthuru Thilafalhu (UTF) agreement and other defence agreements made with the Indian government and Maldives.

The 241 Committee states that they are seeking the contracts as per the request of former Defence Minister and MP of Maduvvari constituency Adam Shareef on 22 September 2021. The committee has made written communications with the relevant parties to obtain these agreements.

In addition to the UTF agreement, the 241 Committee is also seeking the agreements for Maafilaafushi composite training centre, Dornier aircraft, and all other defence contracts signed between the two friendly nations according to 241 Committee chair Mohamed Aslam.

The statements by the 241 committee comes at a time when Speaker Nasheed had stated that the UTF agreement is not a secret and confirmed that a request had been sent to the Maldives Ministry of Defence to retrieve a copy of the agreement.