President helps Maldives as friend and neighbour
President Mahinda Rajapaksa who was on a goodwill visit to the
Maldives met with Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed, Maldivian
Opposition Leader Ahamed Thasmeen Ali, the Chief Justice, Speaker of the
Majlis and former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, states an External
Affairs Ministry release.
President Rajapaksa also met a delegation of the MDP and an
Opposition delegation consisting of the DRP, Qaumi Party, Jumhoori Party
and the People’s Alliance. President Mahinda Rajapaksa also met with
some leading members of the Maldivian business communities.
President Rajapaksa engaged in this initiative as a friend and a
neighbour of the Maldives who offered his assistance, in accordance with
the wishes of the Government and the Opposition of the Maldives in
initiating a dialogue to resolve the current crisis.
The Government and the Opposition agreed, in the presence of
President Rajapaksa, to constitute a committee of six members of the
Majilis, comprising three members from the Government and three from the
Opposition to commence and to carry forward a dialogue addressing such
pressing issues as the appointment of the Cabinet of ministers and the
smooth functioning of the legislative process. The Sri Lankan delegation
comprised President Mahinda Rajapaksa, External Affairs Minister G. L.
Peiris, Sajin de Vass Gunawardena, MP and Secretary to the President
Lalith Weeratunga.
Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister Professor G. L. Peiris told a
press conference at the Parliamentary complex yesterday that President
Mahinda Rajapaksa’s visit to the Republic of Maldives was to cooperate
with the leaders to resolve an internal problems of the country by the
commencement of a fruitful dialogue. It was to prepare the background
for the leaders of that country to reach a workable agreement, he said.
The connection President Rajapaksa had with the Maldivian parties and
personalities over a long period and as the former Leader of the SAARC
was useful in his visit to discuss and resolve the issues. It was in
this background that he was able to defuse the political crisis in the
Republic of Maldives Wednesday. It was a very positive development, he
said
Prof. Peiris said President Rajapaksa’s visit to the Maldives was on
President Mohamed Nasheed’s invitation and he held discussions with the
Government and Opposition political party leaders.
President Rajapaksa also met Maldivian Parliament Speaker Abdullah
Shahid and the former President Abdul Gayoom and held talks with them
and helped in achieving positive results resolving differences. |