President Waheed himself had requested this meeting to be added to the schedule of his UK visit, and the President and First Lady relished the opportunity to meet Maldivian students and families in a relaxed environment.

The reception at the High Commission also offered the President and First Lady the opportunity to inspect the High Commission and meet the High Commission staff.

After chatting informally with guests and High Commission staff, President Waheed gave a short speech in which he expressed his pleasure at having the opportunity to personally meet Maldivians making their future overseas. Furthermore, President Waheed noted the difficulty of getting balanced news on current events in the Maldives, and outlined some of the political and economic challenges facing the Maldives as it moves forward.

The evening’s host, Acting High Commissioner Ahmed Shiaan, drew the reception to a close by thanking the President, First Lady and guests for travelling on a day of such wet, and typically British, weather.