Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid has said that the development of a key naval facility in the country with Indian help will end the practice of sending vessels abroad for maintenance and improve the archipelago’s maritime security capabilities. Work on developing the harbour at Uthuru Thila Falhu base under a bilateral agreement is ongoing and the project is aimed at creating a hub for maintenance of vessels, Shahid further said in an interview. He dismissed criticism of bilateral security cooperation, saying this was the work of elements whose interests are affected by such collaboration.