Emperor of Japan has conferred the “Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star” upon the former Ambassador of Maldives to Japan Ahmed Khaleel, who also previously held the position of the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. This honour was presented to Khaleel, recognising his invaluable contributions to strengthening the friendship between Japan and the Maldives. This marks the first time a Maldivian national has received this prestigious honour.
The former Ambassador Khaleel is a dedicated diplomat, who served in the Maldives Foreign Service for over 41 years. He is among the very few who have consistently risen through the ranks to the highest echelons of diplomacy since he joined the foreign service. He held the position of the ambassador to Japan from 2009 to 2016 and worked tirelessly to elevate the bilateral relations between the two nations.
Following the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in 2011, Khaleel played a pivotal role in donating over 700,000 fish cans to Japan from the Maldives, contributing to strong ties between the peoples of both countries. Furthermore, his efforts led to transformative development projects funded by Japanese grants, benefiting key sectors across the Maldives. Khaleel was retired from the Maldives Foreign Service last year. He held the state minister position during his time of retirement.
The decoration of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star is one of the orders under the Order of the Rising Sun, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji, awarded by the Emperor of Japan to both Japanese and foreign individuals in recognition of meritorious service over a long duration.