Sergeant First Class Mohamed Mahudhee of the Maldives National Defence Force has been posthumously awarded Italy’s highest honour for gallantry, recognising his service during a rescue operation for Italian divers lost in an underwater cave in Vaavu Atoll, where he passed away.
The accolade was conferred during a ceremony at the Barceló Nasandhura Malé marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties established in 1966, alongside Italy’s 80th National Day. Sergeant First Class Mahudhee was decorated with the 'Medaglia d'oro al valor civile', or Gold Medal for Civil Valour, presented by Italian Ambassador Damiano Francovigh and Mohamed Saeed, the Maldivian Minister of Economic Development, Transport and Trade.
The May tragedy in Vaavu Atoll claimed the lives of five Italian citizens and Sergeant First Class Mahudhee during the search, Minister Saeed recalled, offering condolences and noting that the Maldivian government was profoundly grateful for the solidarity shown by Italy. A dedicated relief fund to support the soldier’s family has been established jointly by the Italian Embassy in Colombo and Italy’s Honorary Consular Agency in Malé.
The ceremony marked the first official Italian National Day commemoration held in the Maldives, Ambassador Francovigh observed, noting it was the first during his tenure and voicing hope that bilateral partnerships would continue to expand.