"Recognition of his role...", says PM Modi's Bhutanese counterpart Lotay Tshering as he congratulates him on being conferred with Maldives' highest honour

PM Modi was conferred Maldives' highest honour accorded to foreign dignitaries, 'The Most Honourable Order of the Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddeen' on Saturday, following which his counterpart from Bhutan congratulated him. The prestigious award was presented to the Prime Minister by Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih during a ceremony in Male. 

Taking to Twitter, Bhutanese PM Lotay Tshering said that the recognition comes as PM has played a significant role in strengthening relations between Maldives and India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Maldives on Saturday afternoon after offering prayers in Kerala's Guruvayur Temple and addressing a rally there earlier in the day, and was accorded a ceremonial welcome. This is the maiden foreign visit of PM Modi since he re-assumed the office of Prime Minister after winning the 2019 Lok Sabha election in May. He was received by Foreign Minister of Maldives at the Velana International Airport, Male. 

The decision to confer the highest honour accorded to foreign dignitaries was announced by the Foreign Minister of the Maldives Abdulla Shahid. Here's the tweet of the announcement.

PM Modi will visit Sri Lanka on June 9. 

Meanwhile, external affairs minister S Jaishankar on Friday met Bhutan's top leadership, including Prime Minister Lotay Tshering, and discussed important elements of the bilateral ties with emphasis on development partnership and cooperation in the hydropower sector. Following the meeting, Prime Minister Tshering appreciated Jaishankar's visit to Bhutan so soon after assuming the office.

Jaishankar, who arrived in Bhutan on a commercial flight, was welcomed by his Bhutanese counterpart Tandi Dorji at the airport. He held talks with Dorji and discussed issues of mutual interest.