The People’s Majlis has on Monday approved Mohamed Khaleel as the Maldives’ Ambassador to the Organization of the Islamic Affairs (OIC).

All 82 MPs at Monday’s sitting voted in favour of Khaleel’s appointment; the speaker did not take part in the vote.

Khaleel is also country’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. He presented his credentials to King Salman last week.

While President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had forwarded his name for parliamentary approval earlier this month, the committee on national security and foreign relations approved him shortly after.

As per Article 115 (l) of the Constitution, the president is entrusted “to appoint members of diplomatic missions to foreign countries and international organizations in consultation with the People’s Majlis.”

Khaleel, who was appointed as Ambassador to Saudi Arabia in June this year, previously served as the Maldivian High Commissioner and Acting High commissioner to Singapore. He attained his Diploma of Environmental Law and Policy at Jawaharlal Nehru University, India.

Khaleel has been serving the government since 1983.