President, First Lady treated to a grand welcome by India

(From L-R) Maldivian First Lady Fazna Ahmed, Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Indian President Ram Nath Kovind, Indian First Lady Savita Kovind and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the official function to welcome Maldivian President at Rashtrapati Bhavan on December 17, 2018. (Photo/President's Office)

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and First Lady Fazna Ahmed have been treated to a grand welcome by the Indian government.

The function to officially welcome Solih and Fazna to India was held at the presidential palace of India, Rashtrapati Bhavan, this Monday morning.

Upon arrival at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Solih and Fazna were received by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indian President Ram Nath Kovind.

They were also honored with a 21-gun salute and presentation of arms by the Indian army. The national anthems of Maldives and India were played, after which Solih inspected a guard of honor accorded to him.

At the function, Indian dignitaries at the receiving line were introduced to Solih; and the Maldivian dignitaries were introduced to the Indian President.

Solih and Fazna then visited Rajghat and paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.

Solih’s current visit to India is his first State visit to a foreign country since assuming power on November 17, 2018.

Solih, Fazna, and the high-level Maldivian delegation taking part in the visit: Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid, Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer, Minister of National Planning and Infrastructure Mohamed Aslam and Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail arrived in New Delhi last Sunday afternoon.