By: South Asian Correspondent
(Lanka-e-News -20.Feb.2025, 11.00 PM) Malé, Maldives – In a plot twist that sounds straight out of a political soap opera, the Maldives is currently in the grips of a scandal that involves inheritance feuds, alleged betrayals, and a deportation so controversial it could make reality TV producers weep with envy.
The subject of this controversy? None other than Gnei Skeelan, a Sri Lankan national and stepmother of current Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. According to a shocking exposé by local news outlet Adhadhu, Skeelan was not only deported but also blacklisted from ever stepping foot in the Maldives again. And the person who allegedly made this happen? The current President himself.
But before we dive into the juicy details, let’s take a step back and ask the obvious question: Why would anyone go to such lengths to deport their stepmother?
According to Adhadhu’s documentary, Skeelan’s troubles began after the passing of her husband—Muizzu’s father—in 2015. She claimed that she had willingly given up her right to inheritance based on a verbal promise from Muizzu, who was then serving as the Minister of Housing. The deal was simple: Skeelan wouldn’t stake a claim to the family fortune, and in return, Muizzu would provide for her and let her remain in the Maldives.
Unfortunately, verbal promises in the world of politics tend to have the shelf life of unrefrigerated tuna. Once the inheritance matter was settled, Skeelan found herself not only financially abandoned but also forcibly removed from the country in what now appears to be an unlawful deportation.
Maldives Immigration has since confirmed that it is investigating how Skeelan was deported and blacklisted from the Maldives without due process. A spokesperson stated, “We have been investigating to find out how this happened from then on.” Which, in non-bureaucratic terms, probably means, We just found out about this, and now we have to pretend like we’ve been working on it for years.
For years, the mystery of Skeelan’s deportation remained hidden, buried under layers of official paperwork and the Maldivian government's famous ability to “lose” inconvenient documents. However, Adhadhu’s investigation peeled back the layers to reveal what might be a convoluted political maneuver to secure family wealth while simultaneously eliminating any pesky claimants.
Former Attorney General Dhiyana Saeed has weighed in on the matter, calling Skeelan’s deportation “a legal nightmare wrapped in an international rights violation”. She pointed out that Skeelan was denied legal representation, which directly contradicts the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
Meanwhile, Mohamed Ahmed Hussain, the Controller General of Maldives Immigration, has expressed concern about how quickly the deportation was processed. Skeelan’s case went from “minor family dispute” to “get on a plane, now!” in record time. If only government services for regular citizens worked that fast!
At first glance, this might seem like just another dysfunctional family drama. But some analysts suspect that there may be a larger, anti-Sri Lankan conspiracy at play. The deportation of Skeelan, a Sri Lankan national, comes at a time when political tensions between Sri Lanka and the Maldives are at an all-time high.
Political expert Dr. Hassan Latheef believes that Skeelan’s case could be “the tip of the iceberg” in a broader campaign against Sri Lankan influence in the Maldives. “It’s no secret that Maldivian politics has always had an uneasy relationship with its larger neighbor. This incident, if proven to be politically motivated, could damage bilateral relations.”
As public outrage grows, President Muizzu has remained conspicuously silent on the matter. His office has neither confirmed nor denied involvement in the deportation, which, in political terms, is as good as saying, Yeah, something shady definitely happened.
Opposition leaders, meanwhile, have wasted no time in capitalizing on the scandal. One opposition MP, speaking on condition of anonymity (but in a voice loud enough for every journalist in Malé to hear), declared: “If Muizzu can deport his own stepmother, what chance do ordinary citizens have?”
For now, Skeelan remains in Sri Lanka, likely wondering how a family disagreement turned into an international incident. Meanwhile, Maldivian authorities continue their investigation, which—if history is any indication—will likely conclude in one of three ways:
A slow, drawn-out legal battle that everyone eventually forgets.
A sudden, convenient “lack of evidence” that makes the case disappear.
A shocking revelation that rocks Maldivian politics and results in… absolutely no consequences for anyone involved.
Whatever the outcome, one thing is clear: this is a scandal that has all the makings of a Maldivian political legend.
And if there’s one lesson to take away from all of this, it’s this: if you’re ever promised something in a political deal, make sure you get it in writing from President Muizzu, man never keeps his promise, Muizzu is anti Sri Lankan
-By: South Asian Correspondent
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by (2025-02-20 17:45:38)
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