Government hands over USD 50,000 donation to Sri Lanka

The government of Maldives has today handed over to the government of Sri Lanka the USD 50,000 pledged as aid towards Sri Lanka's recovery efforts after being severely affected by Cyclone Ditwah. 

The donation was officially handed over to Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath by Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Mas'ood Imad in a ceremony held in Sri Lanka's Foreign Ministry today.

Accepting the donation, Minister Herath extended thanks to the people of Maldives for the unity and assistance shown in this difficult and vulnerable time for Sri Lanka. He noted how the assistance demonstrates the close relations between the two countries. 

In addition to the USD 50,000, Maldives government will also be donating 25,000 cases of canned tuna to Sri Lanka. 

Earlier today, USD 800,352 (MVR 12.3 million) in aid for Sri Lanka, raised through a 29-hour telethon hosted by State media PSM and several other media outlets, was handed over to the Maldives' Foreign Ministry. 

Separately, several leading businesses in the Maldives have also made donations through the Sri Lankan embassy in Maldives. Several private entities are also organizing fundraisers to assist storm-affected Sri Lanka. 

Sri Lanka has stated that the devastation from Cyclone Ditwah surpasses the impact of the 2004 tsunami. 

Latest reports from Sri Lanka's Disaster Management Centre state that the death toll from floods, landslides and other incidents caused by Cyclone Ditwah has reached 410, with another 336 persons confirmed missing.