Maldives appeals UK to alleviate difficulties faced by Maldivian students in attaining visas

Maldives Foreign Affairs has appealed to their United Kingdom counterparts to assist in seeking a permanent solution to difficulties faced by the Maldivians students in attaining visas to study in the UK.

The request was made during meetings held by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Mr Alistair Burt MP and the Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abdul Samad Abdulla, during the Foreign Minister’s on going official visit to the UK.

“The Government hopes a permanent solution to this problem can be sought as it is hindering the nation’s youth from obtaining the exceptional quality of higher education offered by UK universities. Without a permanent solution, Maldivian students will increasingly be forced to seek alternative sources of higher education. This regrettable outcome is in neither of our countries’ interests.”

Minister Burt expressed his hope that the UK Government would find a solution to this problem and reaffirmed the British Governments commitment to the Maldivian people. Mr Burt stated that the UK had always and will continue to be a close development partner of the Maldives both bilaterally and through the Commonwealth.

During the meeting, Dr. Samad also briefed Minister Burt on the on-going preparations for the upcoming Presidential elections. Minister Samad concluded the meeting by expressing the Maldivian Governments commitment to strengthening democracy in the country noting that this could only be done with the continued constructive engagement and support of the international community.

Maldives Foreign Minister also met with the Chair of the All-Party British-Maldives Parliamentary Group, Mr. David Amess.

The matters discussed during the meeting include; the current political situation in the Maldives, the upcoming presidential elections, and the avenues to improve the relationship between parliamentarians in the Maldives and UK.

Mr. David Amess assured Foreign Minister Samad that the All-Party British-Maldives Parliamentary Group was willing to assist in which every way they can, and noted the importance of dialogue between the parliamentarians of the two countries to improve the parliamentary institutions in the Maldives.