The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) expresses grave concern over credible reports that Maldivian nationals residing in Sri Lanka have been subjected to questioning, and intimidation, in connection with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's ongoing official visit to Colombo.
According to accounts received by the party and reported in the press, Sri Lankan police visited the private residences of at least four Maldivian nationals, including a former official of the Maldives High Commission who served under the previous government, apparently at the instigation of or in coordination with the current Maldivian administration. During these visits, individuals were questioned about their political views regarding President Muizzu, told not to attend a reception being held this week for President Muizzu to meet Maldivian nationals residing in Sri Lanka and presented with a statement written in Sinhala, a language they do not understand, and asked to sign it. In at least one case, a residence and personal devices were searched for approximately two hours.
Prior to these visits from the Police, individuals received calls from the Maldives High Commission in Colombo extending an invitation to attend an event with President Muizzu. The individual who reported this incident to the press stated that he had repeatedly declined the invitation, but that he was told by the Police that if they did attend, they would be arrested. The Police had in their possession photographs of the individuals and their personal details, including details of their permanent residences in the Maldives.
This conduct raises serious questions relating to the High Commission of Maldives in Sri Lanka and the Maldivian Government with respect to the monitoring of political views of Maldivian national abroad. These incidents lie firmly outside the boundaries of regular security assessments conducted prior to high level visits.
Maldivians living abroad retain every right guaranteed to them under the Constitution of the Republic of Maldives, including freedom of expression. The MDP calls on the Government of Maldives to immediately cease all surveillance and intimidation of Maldivian citizens abroad, to provide a full and transparent account of its conduct during this visit, and to ensure that no individual faces no unlawful repercussions for expressing their political views.