While there has been criticism over the timing of an upcoming parliament sitting, where India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to deliver a statement, the People’s Majlis has said that this was the only available for the prime minister.

There has been criticism over the fact that the sitting is scheduled between Maghrib and Isha prayers.

The parliament’s secretary general told RaajjeMV that the minister has a hectic schedule for the two-day trip, and that it was set for that time “because it was the only available time for the prime minister.”

This parliament sitting is to begin at 6:45pm on Saturday.

Modi is set to arrive in Maldives on Saturday morning, fresh off his re-election victory, on the invitation of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. He will head off to Sri Lanka the next day.

The parliament passed to grant PM Modi’s request to give the speech at Parliament during a sitting on 29 May.

India’s External Affairs Ministry said that the prime minister’s visit “will provide an important occasion to review the recent developments in bilateral relations and exchange views on issues of mutual interest with the objective of further strengthening the special relationship between the two countries.

It added that the trips to Maldives and Sri Lanka “demonstrates the priority India attaches to its Neighbourhood-First Policy.”