PNC parliamentary group donates MVR 300,000 to Sri Lanka flood relief

Parliamentary Group (PG) of the ruling party and Super Majority holder, the People's National Congress (PNC), has donated MVR 300,000 to Sri Lanka.

This aid was provided during the "Ceylon, aa Eku Dhivehin" telethon, organized by Public Service Media and private media, to support Sri Lankans affected by Cyclone Ditwah flooding.

A donation check was presented to PSM Deputy Managing Director Abdulla Yameen Rasheed by PNC Parliamentary Group Leader Ibrahim Falah and Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla. Following the presentation, Speaker Abdulla emphasized the close relationship between Maldives and Sri Lanka, highlighting the significance of travel and residency ties.

"Considering all these aspects, Sri Lanka and the Maldives share a very close, fraternal bond that has been established over time. When such a tragic disaster occurred in that country, Sri Lanka, the Maldives was the first nation to step up [to assist Sri Lanka]," Abdul Raheem said.

Abdul Raheem also noted that the Sri Lankan Ambassador to the Maldives acknowledged that the Maldives was the first nation to respond when Sri Lanka requested international aid following the disaster.

"This demonstrates the strength and resilience of the foreign policy that the current government pursues with neighboring countries. The firmness of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's foreign policy is evident in every such instance," Abdul Raheem added.

PNC Parliamentary Group Leader Ibrahim Falah said that Sri Lanka is not only a neighboring country but also home to many Maldivian families. He stated that Maldivians share in the grief felt by Sri Lanka as if it were a tragedy that befell the Maldives itself.

"At a time when [Sri Lanka] was recovering from the economic crisis caused by COVID-19 and moving in a very positive direction, this incident is felt by all Maldivian citizens as if it happened to our own country," Falah said.

The telethon, organized by PSM and other media outlets to help Sri Lanka recover from the damages caused by the cyclone, had risen over MVR 1.4 million by noon today.

The telethon, which began at 9:00 AM today, will continue until 1:00 AM tonight. Fund boxes have been placed in various locations across Malé, Hulhumalé, and Villingili.

Yameen Rasheed stated that counting the fund boxes will commence at 12:00 AM tonight, but donations can still be made until midnight.

Donations can be deposited into the following bank accounts:

·         MVR (Maldivian Rufiyaa): 7730000796107

USD (US Dollars): 7730000796106