Sri Lankan President to mediate in Maldives' political crisis

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa is to pay an unscheduled visit to Maldives today in an effort to resolve the political crisis the Maldivian government is embroiled in, an Indian daily Hindustan Times reported.



According to the Hindustan Times report, President Rajapaksa is to mediate between his Maldivian counterpart President Mohamed Nasheed and the opposition-controlled parliament to resolve the continuing stalemate.
President Nasheed's 13-member Cabinet resigned en masse last week after accusing the 77-member parliament of blocking all of the government's legislative initiatives.
The Maldivian police have arrested two opposition politicians for allegedly trying to topple the government. One of the arrested was the brother of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.
President Nasheed's 20-month old government is the first democratically-elected government.
Hindustan Times citing sources said that President Rajapaksa was scheduled to meet President Nasheed this morning to reach a "political and practical compromise" to rescue the government from collapsing.
Meanwhile Sri Lanka's External Affairs Minister is already in Male on a two-day official visit. According to the Sri Lankan Government Information Department, during his 'bilateral goodwill visit', the Minister is scheduled to meet President Nasheed, and other senior political and official personnel.
Minister Peiris was accompanied by parliamentarian and Coordinating Secretary to the President Sajin Vass Gunawardena, the government said.
The Hindustan Times said it learnt that the Indian government is meanwhile, closely monitoring the developments.