Maldives' Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed late Friday that there are six Maldivian individuals currently in the custody of Sri Lankan police.
According to local media Mihaaru, the Maldivians were detained over two different cases. While Mihaaru reported that some were taken in over possession of unlicensed air gun, the others were arrested after the police found a book related to the Islamic State (IS) inside their residence.
However, the number of individuals arrested in the separate cases remain unclear.
The Maldivian government has not issued further information on this development.
The IS claimed responsibility for the string of bomb blasts across Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, which killed over 200 people and injured 500 others. In the wake of the terror attacks, the Sri Lankan authorities have launched a mass crackdown to inspect residences across the country.
Following the arrests, the foreign ministry advised Maldivian citizens residing in Sri Lanka to abide by the rules and regulations of the country and to cooperate with the authorities. The ministry also urged to contact the Maldivian Embassy in Colombo for emergency consular assistance, via the numbers +94764189900, +94727277072 or +94766086660.
Sign In