Lanka resumes SWAT training for Maldives after lapse of 13 years

A contingent of officers and men from the Maldives Police Service is undergoing training in Sri Lanka. An eight week long Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) training programme began on 2 Nov for 36 personnel. The elite Police Special Task Force (STF) is conducting the SWAT training.

The Sri Lankan mission in the Maldives said that the specialised training programme, which resumed after a gap of 13 years, is designed to enhance the officers’ tactical competencies, operational capabilities and law enforcement knowledge. Drawing on the expertise and experience of the STF, the programme would equip the participating officers with valuable knowledge and practical skills to further strengthen their operational readiness.

The mission said: “This initiative reflects the longstanding friendship and close cooperation between Sri Lanka and the Maldives, particularly in the field of security sector capacity-building. It also underscores Sri Lanka’s continued commitment to supporting the professional development of the Maldives Police Service through specialised training and knowledge-sharing.

A ceremony was held on 29 October 2026 ahead of the officers’ departure to Sri Lanka, with the participation of High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the Maldives, Mohamed Rizvi Hassen; Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Mohamed; Deputy Commissioner of Police, Farhad Fikry; and other senior officials of the Maldives Police Service.