President's Spokesperson, Ibrahim Hood, on Wednesday revealed that the national security status upped to 'Yellow Two' was for the protection of tourists.
Speaking at a press conference held at the President's Office, Hood stated that the security alert declared on 24 December was a precautionary measure issued due to the high arrival of tourists during the peak season.
On Tuesday, the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) assured that the security alert level upgrade was not in response to an imminent threat, but instead a preventative measure.
In addition to armed troops operating in different areas of the country, the 'Yellow alert' saw marine vessels stopped for inspection and security heightened at the airports.
Yellow alerts are generally issued in response to an increased or predictable threat to the security and sovereignty of a country.
In light of the recent crackdown on religious extremism, several members of the public expressed concerns after security forces implemented the alert.
In response to a question regarding the government's motive for disclosing previously withheld information on extremism, Hood stated that although its details were kept confidential over the past years, the current administration's policy was to acknowledge extremism as a problem and work to find solutions.
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