Italy opens memorial fund for family of MNDF Sergeant Mohamed Mahudhee
Italy's embassy in Colombo has launched a fund for the family of MNDF Sergeant First Class Mohamed Mahudhee, who received Italy's Gold Medal for Civil Valour posthumously, the embassy said.
In a notice dated 19 October 2026, the Embassy of Italy in Colombo and the Honorary Consular Agency in Malé announced a fund for the family of MNDF Sergeant First Class Mohamed Mahudhee.
Italy's top civil courage award
Italy has awarded the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) serviceman its Gold Medal for Civil Valour after his death, according to the embassy. The embassy said the medal is the Italian Republic's highest honour for acts of exceptional civil courage, and offered its condolences and solidarity to his family.
Death during the search for Italian divers
According to the embassy, he died during recovery operations for five Italian nationals who disappeared while diving in Vaavu Atoll in May 2026.
On 16 May 2026, the MNDF said that Staff Sergeant Mohamed Mahudhee had died after running into difficulty on a dive during its search and rescue operation for the missing divers in Felidhe Atoll.
How the fund will work
The embassy presented the fund as a way for people to stand with the serviceman's relatives. Giving is voluntary and people may contribute whatever they can afford. The money collected will go to his legal heirs under the arrangements set for the initiative, and the embassy said it will be transparent in handling the donations and passing them to the beneficiaries.
Bank details for donations
Contributions are by bank transfer only. The embassy notice gives these details:
- Account name: Sergeant Mahdhee Memorial Fund
- Bank: Maldives Islamic Bank, Head Office, Medhuziyaaraiy Magu, Malé 20097
- Account number: 901 01 53500004 1001
- SWIFT/BIC: MADVMVMVXXX
- Account currency: MVR
- Transfer reference: Donation in Memory of Mohamed Mahudhee by [First Name and Surname]
Deadline and contacts
Donations close on 31 December 2026. The embassy is at 55 Jawatta Road, Colombo 5, and can be reached on +94 11 2588388 or at ambasciata.colombo@esteri.it. Donors are advised to confirm the details against the embassy's own notice before sending money.