Maldives looks for information sharing regarding radical 'Islamic scholars'

Maldivian Foreign Affairs Minister Abdullah Shahid has said that Maldives would appreciate any information that is shared regarding Islamic scholars who promote radicalisation. The Minister added that it was a circumstance common to both Maldives and Sri Lanka.

He made this remark after calling on Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at Temples Trees this morning to convey a message of solidarity from Maldivian Prime Minister Ibrahim Solih on the recent Easter Sunday attacks.

During the discussion, the Maldivian Minister had said that such scholars have now begun to influence the minds of the established middle-class group of people in both countries.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe pointed out that certain Maldivian nationals residing in Sri Lanka are not in the possession of valid visas. He added that it was because they had married Sri Lankan nationals and therefore assumed that a visa was not necessary, he said.

The Prime Minister also observed that terrorists had utilised some facilities in which Maldivian nationals were residing, as safe houses and training centres.

He also emphasised that a system of security co-ordination must be established within the region while obtaining the co-operation of India as well.