Amidst tensions in the Maldives over the arrest of former President Mohammad Nasheed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to drop his visit to Male that was to have been a part of his four-nation ocean island foray including Sri Lanka, Mauritius and the Seychelles next week.

According to a Ministry of External Affairs release, the PM will fly to the Seychelles on March 11, followed by Mauritius, where he will be the chief guest at the National Day celebrations and then he will leave for a two-day visit to Sri Lanka.

The MEA gave no explanation for the decision to cancel Mr. Modi’s visit at this point, but sources said the government did not want to be seen “involved in domestic issues” of the Maldives.

(The Hindu)