The Maldives has pledged to provide Sri Lanka with USD 50,000 in financial aid and a donation of 25,000 cases of canned tuna to support relief efforts as the neighboring island nation battles deadly floods and landslides unleashed by a tropical storm.
The decision to extend humanitarian and relief assistance to the people of Sri Lanka on behalf of the Maldivian people was announced by the Foreign Ministry in a statement on Saturday morning.
The Maldives described its modest donation as a demonstration of solidarity with its close neighbor and the friendly people of Sri Lanka.
“This gesture is a demonstration of solidarity with our close neighbor and the friendly people of Sri Lanka,” said the Foreign Ministry in its statement. “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 donation comes after Cyclone Ditwah, a deadly tropical storm, swept across the South Asian country on Friday.
The rain triggered flooding and landslides, in which at least 69 people have been killed, and another 34 remain missing.