Speaking to local media after cutting short campaign trip to the atolls, President Dr Mohamed Waheed has said that it was with great sadness that he learned of the passing away of Foreign Minister Dr Abdul Samad Abdulla and that the Maldives has lost a great man.
The President said Foreign Minister Dr Abdul Samad Abdulla’s death was a national tragedy and paid tribute to Dr Samad’s services to the country.
Dr Abdul Samad Abdulla died early Sunday morning at Singapore’s Mount Elizabeth Hospital while undergoing treatment for kidney and heart illnesses. He died at the age of 67 and was survived by his wife and three children.
Dr Abdul Samad Abdulla was a distinguished international public servant with an illustrious career at the WHO. Intensifying through the ranks of the Organisation, Dr. Samad most recently served as the Coordinator of Communicable Disease Control at the Regional Office in New Delhi. Prior to joining the WHO he served in many posts at the Health Ministry, the last of which was the Director General of Health Services.
In 2008, Dr Samad Abdullah joined the Maldives Foreign Service and served as the first High Commissioner of the Republic of Maldives to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
Dr Samad was appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs on 05th March 2012.
Following the passing away of Foreign Minister Abdul Samad Abdulla, 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.
A Book of condolences in memory of Foreign Minister Dr Abdul Samad Abdulla will be placed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
