Dr. Aishath Rameela, the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Welfare, has resigned from her position due to ongoing health challenges in her battle with cancer. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced on Sunday that he had accepted Rameela’s resignation, which she submitted citing her health condition.

In his statement, President Muizzu expressed his sincere appreciation for Rameela’s dedicated service to the government, despite her personal health struggles. He praised her honesty and wisdom in her work and reaffirmed his confidence in her continued service to the country in other capacities.

Rameela, who holds a PhD, was appointed to lead the newly created Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare on November 17, 2023. However, just two weeks after her appointment, Rameela publicly revealed that she had been diagnosed with advanced metastatic serous papillary carcinoma, a severe form of ovarian cancer. She has undergone surgery, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy as part of her treatment.

The President’s Office has not yet announced a replacement for Rameela. She becomes the second cabinet member to resign from President Muizzu's original cabinet; the first was Dr. Mohamed Shafeeq, who resigned as Minister of Finance on September 30, 2023.