Maldivians returning from Sri Lanka, following last week's bombings
Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo has often been described as Maldives ‘second biggest city'
Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo has often been described as Maldives ‘second biggest city\'
A number of Maldivians are returning from Sri Lanka, following the terror attacks in the neighboring country last week.
While Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo has often been described as Maldives ‘second biggest city,’ a number of Maldivian families are residing there for educational opportunities.
However, with the country’s schools being closed off until May 6, some of them have decided to return.
Maldives Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Omar Abdul Razzaq assures that they are monitoring the situation very closely, and that the current environment “poses no threat to Maldivians.”
Following a series of coordinated bombings in Sri Lanka on April 21, authorities are conducting a “major search operation” across its capital Colombo, in order to capture suspects still at large. President Maithripala Sirisena said that “every household in the country will be checked” in the operation; they are doing so without any court orders.
Ambassador Razzaq noted that they have since noticed a number of people are residing in Sri Lanka without valid visas. Highlighting that this is unlawful, he asked all to ensure that their documents meet requirements.
Six Maldivians were arrested in the operation in Sri Lanka last week; four on Thursday and two on Friday.
While two of them have been remanded until May 10, the court had ordered to hand the remaining over to their families. The embassy said that a family representative will travel to Colombo on Monday to collect them, adding that they will remain in a remand jail till then.
