Lanka ready to welcome defeated Maldives prez Yameen

Press Trust of India  |  Colombo 

said on Tuesday it is ready to welcome outgoing Maldivian Abdulla Yameen, days after his surprise defeat in the election.

Yameen lost Saturday's to the joint opposition coalition headed by

Wickremesinghe congratulated Yameen for conducting free and fair polls, and assured him that would welcome him at any time.

The statement also said that former Mohamed Nasheed, who is in exile in Colombo, had met Wickremesinghe on Monday and urged for the continuation of Sri Lankan investment in the

has hosted several dissidents from nearby through years of political turmoil in the archipelago, including hundreds of Yameen's opponents since he became in 2013.

Wickremesinghe was personally invited by Nasheed to attend Solih's inauguration as president in November.

Nasheed's has based its offices in Colombo since most opposition leaders in the Maldives were arrested under Yameen's rule.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Tue, September 25 2018. 18:00 IST