The Commonwealth Secretary General, Mr. Kamalesh Sharma, has paid a courtesy call on President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom. The meeting was held on Thursday morning at the President’s Office.

Highlighting the specific issues faced by small states such as the Maldives, the President and Secretary General Sharma exchanged views on making the Commonwealth a more dynamic organization. In this regard, President Yameen appealed to the Commonwealth to adopt procedures to facilitate the economic progress of small states, while taking into account the respective national goals of its member countries.

At the meeting, the Commonwealth Secretary General stated the organization was eager to continue assisting the Maldives in its economic development, through an ‘attitude of supportiveness’.

President Yameen was joined at the call by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Dunya Maumoon, and Foreign Secretary, Dr. Ali Naseer Mohamed. Secretary General Sharma was joined at the call by Mr. Simon Gimson, Director of the Commonwealth Secretariat, and Ms. Alison Pearson, Political Advisor to the Commonwealth Secretariat.