The Maldives government has announced its decision to extend relief assistance to Sri Lanka through financial support of USD 50,000 and a donation of 25,000 cases of tuna cans.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement said the decision to extend humanitarian and relief assistance on behalf of the Maldivian people to the people of Sri Lanka, is in response to the widespread devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
This gesture is a demonstration of solidarity with our close neighbour and the friendly people of Sri Lanka, it said.
“The Maldives hopes that this modest donation will contribute towards the efforts of the Government of Sri Lanka, to assist those affected - reflecting the deep commitment to the close bonds shared between the two nations and their peoples,” the statement added.
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath on X thanked the Maldives for “standing with us at this disaster time.”
Cyclone Ditwah was moving away from Sri Lanka Saturday and was heading towards neighbouring India to the north, but it had already left massive destruction in its wake.
The death toll from heavy rains and floods triggered by Cyclone Ditwah rose to 123, with another 130 reported missing.
The extreme weather system has destroyed nearly 15,000 homes, sending almost 44,000 people to state-run temporary shelters, Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said.