Haveeru understands that the Sri Lankan president will be staying in the Maldives for two days. 

 

No details on the purpose or nature of his visit were immediately clear.

 

Rajapaksa's intention to visit the Maldives was first announced when President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom had met him in India at the sidelines of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's oath-taking ceremony in New Delhi last month.

 

The Sri Lankan president had last visited the Maldives during former President Mohamed Nasheed’s rule in 2010. He had come then volunteering to act as a mediator between the government and the opposition to end a political deadlock.

 

President Yameen had visited Sri Lanka in January.

 

Sri Lanka is home to more than 10,000 Maldivians residing in the country for education, medial purposes and business.(Haveeru Online)