A high-level delegation of Law Association for Asia and the Pacific (LAWASIA) has been refused entry into the Maldives "while attempting to enter under tourist visa and insisting to engage in work that require prior visa".

In a statement issued on Monday, Maldives Immigration said that it "will communicate decisions regarding visa applicatios" and that not getting a response "should not be interpreted as visa being granted".

It further expressed "disappointment" on the matter, and reiterated that "apart from those who arrive for the purpose of holiday, should ensure that appropriate visa has been arranged prior to travelling to Maldives".

RaajjeMV understands that the delegation was kept detained for over 10 hours at Velana International Airport, before being deported.

The LAWASIA delegation included LAWASIA’s President Christopher Leong, its former President and current President-Elect of Bar Association of India, Prashant Kumar; Executive committee member Upul Jayasuriya, President of the Bar Association of Singapore Gregory Vijayendran; a retired Judge of the Court of Appeal of Malaysia, Dato’ Mohamed Ariff Md Yusaf; President of the Law Society of New South Wales, Doug Humphreys; member of Japan Federation of Bar Associations, Professor Yasushi Higashizawa; and solicitor for LAWAISA and member of the Law Society of New South Wales Kate Hewson.

The visit's purpose was that of a fact-finding mission following the suspension of lawyers and other dilemmas they face, 

On the 10th of September 2017, the Department of Judicial Administration had suspended 54 lawyers within the 56 lawyers who had signed a petition calling for the reform of the Judiciary.