Foreign Ministry expresses hope PM Modi will visit soon

Indian media is abuzz with reports that Maldivian Foreign Ministry expressed hope Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the country "very soon."

Originally scheduled to visit Maldives on March, Modi had cancelled the visit amid the political turmoil in the country with the arrest of former Maldivian President and opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed and Defense Minister Colonel (Retired) Mohamed Nazim; who are currently both serving long sentences in prison.

Foreign Minister Dhunya Maumoon expressed regret over the cancellation.

"I think the situation was such that it was a difficult time and I am very hopeful that he (PM Modi) would be visiting Maldives very soon in the near future,” Dhunya was quoted saying to Indian media.

According to Indian media, Dhunya said that recent visit by Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was proof India and Maldives both still shared close neighborly ties.

"As you know, we have five decades of very close bilateral ties. I think this is a very significant visit because we have revived the joint commission between India and Maldives."

Meetings by Joint Commission established in 1986 had stopped in 2000. Therefore the meeting held last week came after a gap of 15 years. The Commission was established to strengthen ties between the two countries and increase cooperation in economic as well as other areas.

Sushma’s two day trip to Maldives honored an official investigation extended to her by Dhunya. She also paid a visit of respect to President Abdulla Yameen during her visit.