President Dr Mohamed Waheed and First Lady Madam Ilham Hussain have yesterday joined Her Majesty The Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, and other Commonwealth Heads of Government for a luncheon hosted by Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma, in honour of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee.
The luncheon took place at the Commonwealth’s headquarters, Marlborough House, and representatives from all 54 Commonwealth countries were in attendance. Commonwealth leaders in attendance at the Diamond Jubilee Luncheon included British Prime Minister The Rt Hon David Cameron, Canadian Prime Minister HE Rt Hon Stephen Harper, President of Sri Lanka HE Mr Mahindra Rajapaksa, and various other Heads of State and their representatives.
President Waheed and the Commonwealth leaders took the opportunity to discuss a variety of issues, including the continued importance of cooperation between Commonwealth nations, and the current political and economic developments in Maldives.
The luncheon offered the chance for Commonwealth governments to officially and collectively celebrate 60 years of Her Majesty as Head of the Commonwealth.
Yesterday, President Waheed congratulated Her Majesty “on the magnificent occasion of her Diamond Jubilee and with it, sixty years as the head of the Commonwealth”, and stated that he was “honoured to attend the celebrations taking place in London.”
After lunch, the Commonwealth Heads of Government and their representatives gathered for a group photograph and the presentation of a commemorative brass plaque from the Commonwealth to Her Majesty.