RUZAIK FAROOK
COLOMBO — Chief Government Spokesman of the Maldives, Mohamed Hussain Shareef said that Sri Lanka is the second home for Maldivians and they prefer Sri Lanka to any other overseas destinations.
Speaking at a press briefing held at the Maldivian High Commission in Colombo on Monday April 27, the Chief Government Spokesman of the Maldives said that the President of Maldives Dr. Mohamed Muizzu is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka and this visit will help further strengthen bilateral relations. He said that the visit had been postponed twice previously due to the Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka and local elections in the Maldives.He said that the Maldivian government has urged Sri Lanka to introduce special visa arrangements for Maldivian nationals to encourage them to stay in Sri Lanka instead of choosing alternative destinations such as South India or Malaysia.“Sri Lanka is often regarded as a second home for many Maldivians. Over the years, a large number of Maldivian students have studied in Colombo”, he said.Shareef said that the current Maldivian government is not pursuing an anti-India policy, clarifying that his government is following “Maldives First” policy. He emphasized that the Maldives is not against India or any other nation and all nations are considered as special friends’
