Sri Lanka has received USD 6.5 million in aid so far to recover from the damage caused by cyclone Ditwah, of which USD 2.4 million has been donated by Maldives.  
Sri Lankan newspaper Ceylon Today reported that Sri Lanka has received more than USD 6.59 million in financial assistance from various countries, international agencies and private donors following the devastation caused by cyclone Ditwah. The largest amount of aid was provided by Maldives.  
While the Maldives government donated USD 50,000, the “Ceylon aaeku Dhivehin” telethon, initiated nationally by Public Service Media (PSM) in collaboration with many media outlets, alone raised USD 800,000. In addition, Maldivian private businesses and the public contributed heavily, bringing the total to USD 2.4 million.  
The United States is the second largest donor, pledging USD 2 million in emergency aid, while China contributed an estimated USD 1.1 million.  
The Sri Lankan government estimates that reconstruction will cost about USD 7 billion.  
Sri Lankans in Maldives hold rally to thank Maldivians for the support rendered following Cyclone Ditwah on December 5, 2025. (Sun Photo/Ahmed Iyad)
It is noteworthy that Sri Lankans living in Maldives held a huge rally on Friday evening to thank Maldives for its assistance. Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Maldives, Mohamed Rizvi Hassen, also attended the event. Many participants carried Sri Lankan and Maldivian flags and banners, expressing gratitude and affirming how near and dear Maldives is to their hearts.
In addition to monetary aid, Maldives has handed over 25,000 cases of canned fish to Sri Lanka.  
Cyclone Ditwah, which struck Sri Lanka on November 27, has affected 1.1 million people. The death toll has risen to nearly 500, according to the Sri Lanka Disaster Management Center (DMC), with more than 360 people still missing. Search, rescue and relief operations continue in some of the worst-hit areas.