More than MVR 11 million raised in Maldives for Sri Lanka cyclone relief

More than MVR 11.5 million has been raised through a telethon to support Sri Lanka, which has suffered extensive damage from Cyclone Ditwah.

The telethon, which began at 9:00 am yesterday and concluded at 2:00 am today, collected MVR 10,892,357.82 and USD 43,631.31 (equivalent to MVR 672,795), bringing the total to over MVR 11.5 million.

Contributions from fund boxes placed in Male', Hulhumale' and Vilimale' have yet to be counted, and the amount is expected to rise further.

PSM Managing Director Abdulla Yameen Rasheed told Mihaaru News that the announced figure reflected deposits made to the accounts as of 2:00 pm today.

He said all donation boxes have now been sealed except the one at PSM headquarters, which will be closed after the remaining donors finish contributing. Counting will begin afterwards.

A total of 37 media outlets participated in the telethon. Maldives has long been among the closest neighbors to Sri Lanka.

The government has also pledged USD 50,000 and 25,000 cases of canned tuna as part of its official assistance.

The death toll from floods and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah has climbed to more than 330, making it Sri Lanka’s deadliest natural disaster since the 2004 tsunami. The cyclone is also the most severe since 2017, when floods and landslides killed more than 200 people, and follows a 2003 disaster that claimed 254 lives.