President Abdulla Yameen has said that prisoners remain because prison cells have been built.

Speaking at a ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) gathering titled 'Heskiyaafa' held in Alimas Carnival area of capital city Male', President Yameen said that he is saddened by questions as to why a certain person is sitting behind bars.

In response to the question the President had in a sardonic manner responded that prisoners lay in cells solely because prison cells have been built.

"Putting it as a one-liner, the reason why someone has to sit behind bars is because the cell has been built. Is that not the reason why someone has to sit behind bars?" asked the President.

As such the President had rebuffed the opposition's corruption accusations aimed at his administration by claiming that there are no other political leaders in the Maldives who can openly talk about corruption, and if there is, then the biggest corruption cases in the country would have been over and done with.

"Show me one opposition leader who can talk about corruption. There will be none. There are no political leaders who can talk about corruption. If there are any such leaders, the biggest cases of corruption in the Maldives will be looked into, over and done with and steps to prevent corruption would have been taken" said President Yameen.

President Yameen said that the last battle with the opposition will be on the international arena since they have all been sentenced to prison and will know the consequences if they were to step foot in Maldives to go against President Yameen.

The President had further accused opposition leaders to have had a hand in the biggest corruption cases the country has seen.

The President had also challenged the opposition to include something fresh and original, something that has not yet been done in his administration, in their manifesto, boastfully claiming that there will be no such thing to include in their manifesto that his administration has not already done.