President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu extended heartfelt appreciation to former Presidents Abdulla Yameen and Ibrahim Mohamed Solih during the official opening of the new terminal at Velana International Airport (VIA), held Friday night.

In his remarks at the ceremony, President Dr. Muizzu described the opening of the terminal as a major national achievement made possible through the collective efforts of many.

He emphasized that success is never the result of a single individual or administration, but rather the hard work of many people across different governments.

acknowledging the contributions made during their respective administrations.

He noted that the project was initiated during President Yameen’s term and that significant progress was made under President Solih’s leadership as well. 

President Dr. Muizzu also recognized the dedication of Maldives Airports Company Ltd (MACL) staff, praising their commitment and tireless work in bringing the project to completion.

He further acknowledged the financial support from four international development partners who funded the airport expansion.

The event marked not just an infrastructural milestone, but a moment of unity, as the President highlighted the importance of working together across political lines to achieve progress for the nation.

The newly opened terminal costing USD 457 million was funded by the Saudi Fund for Development, OPEC Fund for International Development, Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, and the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.

Once fully operational, the terminal will significantly expand VIA’s passenger capacity to 7.5 million annually and features modern facilities such as aerobridges, self-check-in systems, and advanced baggage handling and docking technologies.