President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has extended condolences to Sri Lanka after extreme weather brought unprecedented rainfall, widespread flooding and deadly landslides across the island nation. His message underscored solidarity between the Maldives and Sri Lanka as the latter confronts one of its most severe natural disasters in recent memory.
Sri Lanka recorded 360 millimetres of rain over two days, the highest accumulation in such a short span in recent history. The deluge, accompanied by strong winds, inundated communities and triggered landslides across multiple regions. In response, the Sri Lanka Meteorological Department issued its first-ever red alert, reflecting the extraordinary scale of the crisis.
The human toll has been devastating. The Disaster Management Center reported 56 deaths, with 21 people still missing. Among those killed, 26 were buried in mudslides in the tea-growing Badulla district in the island’s central region. Fourteen people remain hospitalised, while the disaster has affected 5,893 individuals across 1,729 families.
President Muizzu’s remarks conveyed sorrow over the destruction and affirmed that the Maldivian people stand alongside Sri Lanka during this period of grief.