Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed on Saturday personally apologized to the couple who were mocked and insulted during a renewal of vows ceremony at Vilu Reef resort of the Maldives.

In a telephone call on Saturday afternoon from the president's official residence in Male, Nasheed told the couple that "the entire country is deeply saddened and sorry for what has happened. "

According to a statement issued by the presidential office, Nasheed explained to the couple -- who have requested anonymity -- that the Maldives Police Service have arrested two members of the resort's staff who conducted the ceremony. The two men are being held in police custody under a judicial warrant.

The president said he will "personally oversee an overhaul to the way wedding vows ceremonies are conducted in the Maldives."

"The government will announce strict new regulations within the week covering all resorts and hotels in the country," the president added.

Nasheed invited the couple back to the Maldives at their convenience as his personal guests.

The couple thanked Nasheed for taking the time to personally intervene in this matter, said the statement.

He assured the couple that his office will keep them updated on the ongoing investigation into this matter.

Nasheed also appealed to the media to respect the privacy and anonymity of the couple, whose images have been published in the media without their consent, causing them considerable distress and embarrassment.

The president calls on the media not to reproduce photographs or video footage of the couple without their consent and to report the incident in a sensitive manner.

Earlier, Iruthisham Adam, the Maldives' ambassador to UN office in Geneva, personally telephoned the couple Friday afternoon to offer the government's "profound and heartfelt apologies."

A video of the renewal of vows ceremony was posted on YouTube earlier this week and has caused a media storm within the Maldives and abroad.

Nasheed said Friday in a national radio address that the government will introduce strict guidelines on conducting wedding ceremonies for tourists in the Maldives.

"All tourist hotels without exception will be required to follow the new guidelines which will be issued shortly," Nasheed said.

Tourism is the largest industry in the Maldives, accounting for 28 percent of the GDP and more than 60 percent of the its foreign exchange receipts.

Go to Forum >>0 Comments