Nasheed calls on SL President Sirisena
Nasheed announced that the meeting took place via twitter on Saturday
Former President Nasheed calls on President Sirisena on Saturday
Exiled former President Mohamed Nasheed called on the President of Sri Lanka, Maithripala Sirisena on Saturday.
The jailed former President is currently in Sri Lanka, and is to return to the United Kingdom, where he has been granted political asylum, on Monday.
Nasheed announced that the meeting took place, via his official twitter account on Saturday evening, but did not disclose any details on the discussions held at the meeting.
Nasheed was one the first leaders, former and current, to meet with President Sirisena, following his appointment to office; Sirisena assumed office on January 9, 2015.
Former President Nasheed and team called on the Lankan President on January 15, 2015.
Less than two months after the call, Nasheed was sentenced to 13-years in jail- on March 13, 2015- after a trial, that lasted just 19 days.
The Sri Lankan government is said to have been instrumental in securing Nasheed’s release, to travel to the UK for medical treatment, and it was reported that he had met with Sirisena before heading to the United Kingdom in January 2016.
However, neither parties have confirmed the reports.
Nasheed in Lanka
Ex-President Nasheed held a press conference in Sri Lanka, on Thursday
The former President has been in Sri Lanka since January 29, and has been holding a number of high-level meetings, both with senior officials of his party, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), as well as foreign diplomats.
In addition to President Sirisena, Nasheed has, during this trip to Lanka, met with US Ambassador Atul Keshap, British Ambassador James Dauris, Australia's High Commisioner Bryce Hutchesson, Canada's High Commissioner Shelley Whiting, and the Ambassador of Germany, Jörn Rhode.
While this is Nasheed's second trip to Lanka since being granted asylum- he visited the country in August 2016- Sri Lanka had said that it had "no concern over Nasheed's activities in Sri Lanka."
According to the Colombo Gazette, Lanka's cabinet spokesperson had said that Nasheed "was raising democratic issues and so it cannot be seen as an attempt to topple the Maldives Government."
A Maldives court had tried to arrest Nasheed then, even issuing a formal warrant for the arrest of Nasheed to coincide with his visit to Sri Lanka, but failed to arrest Nasheed due to Lanka's stance on the matter.
