341 youth have today graduated from the third batch of the National Service Initial Training. 

Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) said that Defence Minister Hassan Rasheed attended the graduation ceremony as Guest of Honour. 

The graduation ceremony was held at the MNDF Composite Training Centre in Lh. Maafilaafushi. 

The third batch of the National Service program began training on June 8 with 350 recruits. 

Of these, 341 successfully completed the training, MNDF said. These graduates are made up of 62 women and 279 men from 115 islands of 20 atolls. 

MNDF said that the graduates of the 14-week training are equipped with key life skills and will be productive and responsible members of the society. MNDF said that the graduates are psychologically and physically healthy individuals. 

To date, 1,028 youth have been trained under the National Service program.