Foreign Ministry dismisses rumors regarding local in UK

Foreign Ministry has refuted claims that it refused to assist a Maldivian national stranded in London, UK.

Rumors that the Ministry did not assist a local who was in London and was traveling to a Caribbean nation for holidays had surfaced yesterday. Foreign Ministry Media Director Miuvaan Mohamed, speaking with Sun refuted the rumors.

Miuvaan said that the individual was a resident of Sri Lanka and had traveled to London on February 26 via Turkey. The individual had traveled to London to go to Jamaica.

The flight the individual was supposed to travel to Jamaica on was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Miuvaan said that the individual was informed that the refund of the ticket would be received. The individual was contacted by the High Commission on March 23, as the Maldives worked to assist locals stranded abroad.

Officials from the High Commission had informed the individual that since the individual was not a resident visa holder, that travel arrangements to the Maldives could, in fact, be made.

The High Commission had even forwarded details of flights for the arrangements. The individual assured the High Commission that the arrangements would be made and would depart from the country by March 27.

Miuvaan said that the individual had not departed from the UK on March 27 and was living in a hotel in the UK capital. The individual had then informed the High Commission that the ticket obtained for the purpose had also been canceled.

Due to the expenditure incurred from the hotel accommodation, Miuvaan said that the individual had requested for financial assistance in an email on May 6. The High Commission requested the canceled ticket to be forwarded, but the individual had not done so and informed that the ticket had been deleted.

On May 8, the individual then requested assistance in departing to Sri Lanka, in the form of a letter to enter the nation which is in lockdown. The High Commission then responded by stating that it could not be done so even with such a document since Sri Lanka was not issuing entry visas. 

On May 18, the individual had gone to the High Commission and requested financial assistance due to a lack of accommodation. The High Commission had provided assistance in the form of GBP 30.

“We still have not received any documents required by the state as part of the procedure in order to financially assist the individual. The funds of the state can only be spent through the set policies.” Said Miuvaan.

The country has even provided funds from the Zakat Fund to Maldivians stranded abroad only after being provided with a valid reason.