President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa has concluded his State visit to the Maldives, this morning. President Rajapaksa arrived in the Maldives at the invitation of President Mohamed Nasheed.
Before departure, President Nasheed and President Rajapaksa issued a joint press statement.
The joint press statement reads as follows:
His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka made a goodwill visit to the Maldives on Wednesday 7th July 2010. During his visit, the President of Sri Lanka met with His Excellency Mohamed Nasheed, President o the Maldives and Hon Ahmed Thasmeen Ali, Leader of the Opposition, the Chief Justice, the Hon Speaker of the Majlis and Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and a delegation of the MDP and delegation of the opposition consisting of the DRP, Qaumee Party, Jumhooree Party and the People’s Alliance. He also met with some leading members of the business community in the Maldives.
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 Majlis, 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.
President Nasheed and senior government officials bade farewell to President Rajapaksa, at the Male’ International Airport.
