Minister Musthapha visits Sri Lankan prisoner in Maldives…

Minister Faiszer Musthapha attended the Inauguration Ceremony of the newly elected President of Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in Maldives and, during his visit to Maldives, he continued the ongoing negotiations to release of Lahiru Manikkandura.

Lahiru Madushanka Manikkandura has been held captive for three years in the high security Maafushi prison in the Maldives over allegations of plotting to assassinate the former Maldivian President Abdullah Yameen Abdul Gayoom. He had been detained in the Maldives without a trial date since September 2016.
 
With insufficient credible or acceptable evidence to prove that Manikkandura had committed an offence and yet having been denied access to legal representation or a date for a fair trial for the past three years, the Government of Sri Lanka and Amnesty International have strongly expressed their belief that he is completely innocent.

Over the weekend, Minister Musthapha visited Manikkandura at the high security Maafushi prison and spent time with him discussing the progress of his case.