(UTV|COLOMBO) – The Government of Maldives has freed a Sri Lankan national accused of plotting to assassinate former Maldivian President Abdullah Yameen Abdul Gayoom. He was freed on Wednesday (21) and is expected to return to Sri Lanka today (22).
Lahiru Madusanka Manikkandura, better known as ‘Lahiru’, was incriminated with the charge of plotting to assassinate former Maldivian President Abdullah Yameen Abdul Gayoom, and he [Lahiru] was accused of being a former Sri Lankan Military Officer with specialised training in sniping.
However, Lahiru was persistent in stating that he was innocent. At the time of his arrest, he claimed that he was recently married with a one-year-old son (Now four-years-old), and was on the lookout for a job in the Maldives.
He had travelled to the Maldives on the promise of employment, but instead, he was framed with a major crime.
When the trial began, it was conducted in Dhivehi (The official language of Maldives), and Lahiru understood very little.
He was later given a Translator. Allegations of torture had also sprung up by various pressure groups.
The Sri Lankan Government constantly maintained an eye for Lahiru although there were profound limitations in respect of matters within their control.
Recently, Minister Musthapha intervened in the case and took the matter up with former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed and newly elected President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
Musthapha met Lahiru while he was in the Maldives for the swearing-in ceremony of the new Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, over the weekend.
Sri Lanka sought the release of the detainee, saying he had been falsely accused in the assassination plot.
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