President Yameen postpones India trip

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has postponed his trip to India, previously scheduled for 22 December.

President’s Office earlier revealed that President Yameen will travel to India on his maiden official foreign visit, in reply to an invitation extended by Prime Minister Mamohan Singh.

Spokesperson at the President’s Office Ibrahim Muaz Ali said today that the trip has been postponed indefinitely. He did not reveal a reason for the push-back.

“President’s India trip has been postponed. We don’t know a date just yet,” Muaz said.

Indian newspaper The Hindhu reports that President Yameen was forced to postpone as Indian President Pranab Mukherjee will not be present in the national capital from 20 December till the beginning of next year.

It continued to state that India wants to lay out the red carpet for President Yameen by designating his visit as a State visit, which requires Mukherjee’s presence as he will host the state banquet for the Maldivian president.

On 12 December, Sri Lankan High Commissioner Dickson Sarathchandra Dela also presented a letter on behalf of President Mahinda Rajapaksa inviting President Abdulla Yameen to visit Sri Lanka.