Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Shahid has expressed his gratitude to the Government of Japan for the Seawall, which had continued to protect Male’, the Capital City of Maldives from storm surges and extreme weather related erosion.

Minister Shahid stated this during the ceremony held in Male’ for the relocation of the Seawall Tetrapod Monument.

Minister Shahid, together with the visiting State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Takei Shunsuke, and the Minister of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, Mohamed Aslam, unveiled the Plaque on the monument, which is a token of friendship and cooperation between Maldives and Japan.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Shahid also emphasized on the importance of the seawall in preventing major damage to Male’ during the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004.

The ceremony was also attended by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Khaleel, Ambassador of Japan to the Maldives, Takeuchi Midori, Senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure and the Embassy of Japan in the Maldives.