Sri Lanka expresses gratitude to Maldives for storm relief aid

Sri Lankan citizens have expressed their love and affection to Maldives for their generous aid and unity in a time where thousands of Sri Lankan citizens have been displaced from their homes due to the destruction brought about by Cyclone Ditwah.

Sri Lankan citizens are expressing their gratitude via social media to Maldivians for the aid that was generated through the "Maldivians with Ceylon" telethon that took place.

Sri Lankan citizens saw this as a monumental effort for such a small country to help Sri Lanka overcome the biggest natural disaster they had faced since the tsunami. Maldives' aid came at a time where Sri Lanka had not yet established their own relief campaign.

A Sri Lankan citizen posted on social media stating that they would come to the aid of Maldives in our time of need.

"If there comes a time Maldives is in need of aid, we will provide them with what they need and give them everything we have," as was written wholeheartedly by a Sri Lankan citizen.

The citizen stated that Maldivians had donated a day's wage to the telethon, with that amount being equal to a month's wage for some Sri Lankans.

The citizen also listed out some of the aid they had received through the telethon.

"Just one Maldivian had donated USD 200,000. The Maldivian government has donated USD 50,000. Sri Lankans who are working in Maldives have worked to amass USD 33,000 as of now. A Maldivian bank has donated USD 20,000. As this disaster occurred, Maldives' mobile network enabled free calling services for Sri Lanka. The Maldivian government has also said that they will send 25,000 tuna can cases (1.2 million tuna cans)," as was written by the citizen.

The citizen has also praised Maldivian offices, resorts and schools for creating a hashtag under the "Maldivians with Ceylon" name and providing aid, with the Sri Lankan's own nation not pushing such a social media initiative. 

"They are showing more humanity than us."

With that social media post, other Sri Lankan's began thanking Maldivians through social media. Sri Lankan citizens said they would never forget their kindness and compassion, and assured that they would be there for Maldivians if they are in need of aid.

They also said that companies in Maldives with Sri Lankan workers are aiding the families of their Sri Lankan employees.

Along with Facebook, Sri Lankans are expressing their gratitude to Maldivians on TikTok as well. They have shared the scenery of fund boxes and the telethon, with them expressing their gratitude over these actions.

The PSM-led telethon, named "Maldivians with Ceylon", along with other local media outlets to aid Sri Lanka in overcoming the damages they were dealt due to Cyclone Ditwah began on Sunday morning 9:00am and concluded yesterday at 2:00pm. The telethon saw MVR 11 million and USD 43,631.31 (more than MVR 600,000) be donated.

The Maldivian government, along with the police, military and many other parties gave a lot of aid. Maldivian tourism companies also provided aid in USD. 

The death toll from the flooding and landslides caused by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka has now gone beyond 350, with more than 300 still unaccounted for. Sri Lanka has also announced a State of Emergency on Saturday.