President Abdulla Yameen has revealed that there have been three attempted attacks to remove him, since being elected in 2013.

He made the statement at a Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) gathering- held to mark its anniversary- at Kulhudhuffushi island of Haa Dhaalu atoll on Sunday night.

Noting that his candidate number was three during the 2013 presidential elections, President Yameen emphasized that the number has brought "both happiness and dismay".'

He said that there have been "three attempts" to remove him from his position.

"The first one was the assassination attempt. Second one was the conflict between party's seniors. Things that would weaken the party. The third one was a number of members leaving the party and their coup," said the President.

Furthermore, President Yameen said that he believes that more members could leave the party, and that there could be more attacks on his life.

"Losing more members will be our biggest loss, I think I will have to experience that too. Also, there could be more assassination attempts on me," he added.

Noting that a PPM parliamentarian will not be allowed to leave the party, President Yameen said that "they will not be give the opportunity to do so".

While he added that "this shows selfishness," a number of parliamentarians from opposition parties have defected to the ruling side since being elected in 2014.