Five-member Foreign Service Advisory Board constituted

Foreign Service Advisory Board comprising of five members have been constituted by the Foreign Minister on Thursday, in accordance with the recently ratified Maldives Foreign Service Act.

The five members appointed to the board are;

• Foreign Secretary Ahmed Latheef, as Chairman
• Ahmed Rasheed, as member who had served the foreign service for over 10 years and is no longer in the service
• Additional Secretary Aminath Shifana, as a member from the Foreign Service Executive Staff,
• Joint Secretary Khadheeja Najeeha as Head of Foreign Service Institute of Maldives (FOSIM)
• Desk Officer Aminath Samra from Foreign Service General Staff

The Foreign Service Advisory Board held it first meeting following constitution on Wednesday.  

The board’s purpose is to provide advice to the Foreign Minister on matters related to foreign service regulations, organization structure and other matters of interest in strengthening the Maldives foreign service.

Maldives Foreign Service Act which establishes foreign service as a separate service from civil service was ratified by President Ibrahim Mohamed into law in last November. The Act came into force in May 14.

Maldives Foreign Service Act governs the establishment of a separate entity titled ‘Foreign Service’ for the purpose of implementing the foreign policy of Maldives. The act specifies it organizational structure, management policy, and matters relating to diplomatic cadre.

The implementation of Maldives Foreign Service Act will see the establishment of a completely separate institution called ‘Maldives Foreign Service’.

As per the Act, Maldives Foreign Service will embody the ministry and oversee all Maldivian missions and consular posts. It is also dictates that the President is the highest authority tasked with overseeing and directing the Maldives' foreign policy, with the Minister, under guidance from the President, being authorized to manage the daily execution of the service.

In addition to this, the Act also states that a Foreign Secretary must be appointed, who shall assist the Minister in the execution of foreign service duties. The Foreign Secretary will be the highest-ranking member of the Foreign Service staff and that all Foreign Service staff and outside staff working in similar positions must report to the Foreign Secretary. The President will have the discretionary power to appoint or terminate the Foreign Secretary under the advice of the Minister.