Promotional efforts led by the President’s Office have reportedly begun inside the new 10-story Defense Building, constructed with financial assistance from the government of India to house the Ministry of Defense.

Sources say Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is visiting the Maldives as the guest of honor for this year’s Independence Day celebrations, is scheduled to officially inaugurate the building during his visit.

The newly completed 10-story Defense Building, constructed with full financial assistance from the Indian government, was initiated as part of an agreement reached during years of annual Defense Talks between the Maldives and India. The project aimed to consolidate key operations of the Ministry of Defense, which had previously been scattered across various locations, into a single modern facility.

The structure was built on the site of the former Coast Guard building and is considered the largest infrastructure project to date aimed at enhancing the operational capacity of the Maldivian defense sector.

Before the facility could be officially inaugurated, reports indicate that the current administration has begun using parts of the building for purposes not aligned with its original mandate, raising questions about its intended use ahead of the inauguration by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in the Maldives on Friday morning.

Four floors of the newly constructed 10-story Defense Building, funded by the Indian government to house the Ministry of Defense, have reportedly been allocated to the President’s Office, raising concerns about the facility being used for purposes beyond its original mandate.

According to a reliable source, one of the floors assigned to the President’s Office has been designated specifically for communications and promotional activities aimed at enhancing the public image of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. The initiative is reportedly being led by the Minister of Communications at the President’s Office, Ibrahim Khaleel.

In addition to the floors occupied by the President’s Office, another floor has been allocated to the Ministry of Local Government, headed by Minister Adam Shareef.

In addition to the floors taken by the President's Office, a floor has also been given to the Ministry of Cities, Local Government and Public Works headed by Minister Adam Shareef Umar.

The building was constructed under a contract awarded by former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration and carried out by Rainbow Construction at an estimated cost of MVR 100 million.

Rainbow Construction was contracted to handle the full scope of work, which included demolishing the old Coast Guard building, clearing the site, and constructing the new structure. According to reports, the main construction was largely completed before the change in administration, with only electrical wiring and finishing touches remaining at the time.

The project, fully funded through Indian grant aid, was part of broader defense cooperation between the two countries. India not only financed the construction but also committed to providing furnishings, computers, and essential equipment for the facility under the project’s budget.