Indian External Minister sends condolences to President Waheed on death of former Maldives Foreign Minister

External Affairs Minister of India, Mr Salman Khurshid has sent a message of condolence to Maldives President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik over the death of Maldives former Foreign Minister Dr Abdul Samad Abdulla.

A statement published by the High Commission of India in the Maldives stated that, in a letter to President Waheed , External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid mentioned that Dr Samad was not only a great diplomat and statesman but also a close personal friend of the External Minister and that his hard work in the service of Maldives and his high regard for India contributed immensely to furthering the bilateral relations between India and Maldives.

It continued to state that Dr Samad’s contribution to development work during his tenure in the World Health Organisation (WHO) in New Delhi is highly regarded by the people of India.

"On behalf of the Government and people of India as well as on his personal behalf, Mr. Salman Khurshid conveyed deepest condolences to the bereaved family, colleagues and the people of Maldives on this irretrievable loss of a leader," the statement read.

Dr Abdul Samad Abdulla died Sunday morning, 25th August, while being treated for ailing kidney and heart issues in Singapore’s Mount Elizabeth Hospital.