Colombo: The resignation of Maldivian
President Mohamed Nasheed is country's "internal matter", its
closest neighbour, Sri Lanka said Tuesday.
"The Government of Sri Lanka has noted the resignation of
the President of the Maldives Mr. Mohamed Nasheed and the
swearing in of its Vice-President, Dr. Mohamed Waheed as the
President of the Maldives.
The Government of Sri Lanka is of the view that these
developments are internal matters of the Maldives and hopes
that all issues pertaining to this transition be resolved in a
peaceful manner".
The External Affairs ministry release said that as the
closest neighbour, Sri Lanka enjoys a cordial relationship
with the government and people of the Maldives, and wishes to
assure its fullest support and co-operation to the Government
of the Maldives in its efforts to bring peace and stability to
the country and prosperity to the Maldivian people.
Nasheed during his presidency was a close ally of
the president Mahinda Rajapaksa and made frequent visits to
Colombo. He even defended Sri Lanka's human rights record at
last year's UN Human Rights Council sessions in Geneva when
the island was subject to criticism.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, February 07, 2012, 23:18