Sri Lankans living in Male’ City held a peaceful gathering on Friday to express their gratitude to the people and the government of Maldives for the assistance provided following the deadly cyclone in Sri Lanka.
Sharing their sentiments with PSM News, several attendees said they would never forget the Maldives’ help during Sri Lanka’s time of need. Despite being a small nation, the Maldives’ contribution was significant and deeply appreciated, they noted.
Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the Maldives, Mohamed Rizvi Hassen also extended gratitude to President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, the Maldivian government, private businesses and the public. He said the Maldives’ support would be “written in golden letters” in history, adding that nothing could weaken the strong relationship between the two countries.
Cyclone Ditwah caused severe devastation in Sri Lanka, killing 355 people and leaving 366 missing. Over 200,000 people have been displaced due to landslides and flooding.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Maldives’ total assistance to Sri Lanka amounted to USD 2.4 million, including government, public, and private sector contributions. This included a government donation of USD 50,000 and 25,000 cartons of canned tuna, along with funds raised through a PSM telethon.