Foreign Minister Dr Abdul Samad Abdulla passes away. National Flag to be flown at Half-Mast.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Abdul Samad Abdulla has passed away early Sunday morning.

The President’s Office says that Minister Abdul Samad passed away at 0105 hours local time on Sunday morning, while being treated for kidney and heart disease, at Singapore’s Mount Elizabeth Hospital. President Dr Mohamed Waheed has declared that the national flag be flown at half-mast for three days starting Sunday, 25 August 2013 till the end of Tuesday, 27August 2013.

On behalf of the Government and people of the Maldives, and on his own behalf, President Waheed extends his heartfelt condolences, at this time of national tragedy, to the family of late Dr Abdul Samad.

The President recognizes Dr Abdul Samad Abdulla’s sincere services to the government and the people of Maldives, especially as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives, in strengthening diplomatic relations with other countries.