Sri Lankan ‘sniper’ arrested in Maldives

The Maldives declared a state of emergency on Wednesday, as President Abdulla Yameen sought to shore up his power over the Indian Ocean island nation following a suspected assassination attempt.

Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon said by phone from the Maldives’ capital, Male, that the emergency was declared in the face of an unprecedented security threat, but that information from defense officials gives hope that it could be reviewed in the coming days.

The authorities acted after discovering explosive devices near Yameen’s official residence and the main mosque in the capital Male, as well as stashes of weapons believed to have been stolen from army stores.

“I would like to say to the global organization and countries that as soon as the threat is reduced and the security situation is normalized”. He also said that there will be no enforcement of curfew despite the declaration of State of Emergency. Naseer said that the sniper’s rifle had not yet been found, but that “police located a telescope and a bullet used in such a rifle”. There would no curfew or arbitrary detention.

The Maldives’ pristine white sand beaches and turquoise waters attracted 1.2mn tourists past year.

The request was made following a court warrant to arrest Ashraf in connection with the on-going investigation on the blast in the Presidential Launch in September.

“It looks like Yameen has lost control or is losing control”, the spokesman said, expressing concern that the state of emergency could be indefinite.

Sri Lanka has reportedly summoned the Maldives High Commissioner in Colombo Zaahiya Zareer before the Foreign Affairs Ministry on Monday, over the arrest of a Sri Lankan national in Maldives.

Speaking on behalf on the Government, the Attorney General has assured that the highest priority of the Government and its law enforcement agencies was to ensure the safety, security, independence, and peace among the people. The explosion was followed by reports that an arms cache and a homemade bomb apparently targeting the president had been found. The government was “convinced” that the blast was caused by a bomb.

Official sources said Colombo was “extremely unhappy” with the conduct of the High Commissioner who had failed to inform Sri Lanka about the arrest of the man which had been carried out on October 24. As such, the U.S. exhorted Maldives to prevent abuse and ensure that civil and political rights are respected.