Maldivian leader arrives

Rafik JALALDEEN

Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed and First Lady Laila Ali who arrived in Colombo yesterday were received by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, Government Ministers and Officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

During the three-day visit, President Mohamed Nasheed met President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday. He is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka and other Government officials. Bilateral talks will also be held between Sri Lanka and Maldives during this visit.

President Mohamed Nasheed who was known as "Anni" was sworn in as the President of Maldives on October 28, 2008 after unseating Asia's longest serving leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, in the country's first multi party election.

President Nasheed contested from the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) won handsomely in the historical multi party election held on November 2008.

President Mohamed Nasheed born in 1967 in Male, Maldives obtained B.Sc Maritime Studies at Liverpool University after completing his higher studies at the Majeediyya School in Male.

He became a Member of Parliament in 1999-2001. He was the Co-founder of MDP, and was in exile in Sri Lanka and the UK in November 2004 and later recognized as a political refugee by the British Government. After 15 months in self-exile, Nasheed returned to Male on April 2005 and began promoting the MDP.

With the decision to allow political parties to function in the Maldives in June 2005 and the recognition of the MDP's existence, Nasheed accelerated his support campaigns for the party.