The previous government's negligence was to blame for the Maldives' inability to participate in this year's Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) last week, the government has said, insisting that ties with the conclave's member nations would not be harmed by the country's absence.
Asked to clarify the reasons for the Maldives not participating in CSC, President's Office Communications Minister Ibrahim Khaleel told Adhadhu that it happened because of the previous government's failure to complete necessary administrative tasks.
"Ties and any ongoing work with the countries will not be weakened from not participating in the meeting this time," Khaleel added.
This year's CSC took place in Mauritius on December 7. It was the sixth meeting of the conclave set up in 2011 to discuss Indian Ocean security matters.
National security advisors from India, Sri Lanka and Mauritius took part in the meeting along with defense officers from Seychelles and Bangladesh.
It was the first time that the Maldives did not participate in the conclave.
However, during the same week, Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef traveled to China to participate in the "China-Indian Ocean Regional Forum on Development Cooperation."
