Parliament of the Maldives has passed the Foreign Services Bill proposed by the government, allowing the Foreign Services to be removed from the authority of Civil Services and formed as an independent body.
The Foreign Services Bill had been submitted to the parliament on behalf of the government by Parliamentarian Hussain Shaheem. The bill mandates the establishment of an independent body called the Foreign Services of the Maldives, under which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, diplomatic mission and consular posts of the Maldives will be operated. The bill was passed by the parliament with votes from 46 parliamentarians.
The primary responsibility of the Foreign Services body is to protect interests abroad, implement foreign policy initiatives and train professionals. The foreign secretary will serve as the head of the body and instruct the work of all foreign service staff. The foreign secretary is accountable to the foreign minister.