Sri Lankan Authorities have accepted a relief consignment of canned tuna from the Maldives on Friday, 5 December. A Maldivian cargo vessel carrying humanitarian supplies docked in Sri Lanka on Friday morning, delivering the assistance to a nation reeling from the devastation of Cyclone Ditwah.
The shipment, 25,000 cases of canned tuna packed into 14 containers aboard the Maldives State Shipping vessel Galena, supplements a USD 50,000 financial contribution previously transferred by the Maldivian government to its Sri Lankan counterpart. Officials said the Maldives High Commission in Colombo would formally hand over custody of the provisions later in the day.
Maldivian authorities described the assistance as a reflection of the enduring diplomatic rapport between the two countries, highlighting solidarity with the Sri Lankan people during this crisis.
Support has also come from the public. A telethon organised by media outlets mobilised significant private contributions, raising USD 800,000 from institutions and citizens. Those funds have since been remitted to the Maldivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for distribution.
The intervention underscores the scale of the disaster. Cyclone Ditwah has claimed 479 lives and left 350 people missing, while authorities report that the storm has disrupted the lives of approximately 1.2 million residents across the island nation.
Sri Lanka received the relief consignment of 25,000 cases of canned tuna in 14 containers from the Maldives on the same day.
The shipment was formally handed over in Colombo by the High Commissioner of the Maldives, Masood Imad, representing the High Commission alongside Minister Counsellor Haleemath Shizna, Minister Counsellor Ismail Mamdhooh, Counsellor Ali Shareef, First Secretary Ahmed Azim, and Defence Attaché Colonel Hassan Amir.
Representing Sri Lanka at the handover were Brigadier Roshan Dharmawickrema, Director Operations of the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), Commodore Aruna Wijewardane, Deputy Area Commander of the Western Naval Area, and Diana Perera, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Officials emphasised that the donation will support national efforts to address emerging needs and will be distributed through the relevant government agencies.