President Ibrahim Mohamed Salih has said that legal action will be taken against those who disrupted the International Yoga Day celebrations at the Galolhu Official Stadium.
The event was planned for 0630hrs on June 21 by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment and the Indian High Commission in the Maldives. Several individuals gathered nearby and protested against the event, broke through the police barricades, and entered the stadium.
In a tweet following the disruptions, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said an investigation has been launched by the Maldives Police Service (MPS) into the incident at Galolhu stadium. The president added it is being treated as a matter of serious concern and those responsible will be swiftly brought before the law. The police have so far arrested six men in connection with the disruptions.
Youth Minister Mahloof, Indian High Commissioner to the Maldives Munu Mahawar, and representatives from foreign organisations attended the event. The protesters entered the stadium and damaged some items in the area. Some witnesses said some participants were also attacked.
International Yoga Day has been celebrated in the Maldives every year since 2014. However, no such activities have been obstructed before. The youth minister with regret described it as a deliberate act with a political purpose.