Maldivians in Sri Lanka extend support to victims of Cyclone Ditwah

Maldivians living in Sri Lanka have launched a initiative to assist Sri Lankans affected by the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

Second Secretary at the Maldivian Embassy in Sri Lanka, Ahmed Anwar, said the collection point at Sosanvilla is accepting aid for flood victims from 10:00 am. to 8:00 pm, and has received strong support.

He noted that those involved in the effort are volunteering without pay.

Anwar said the three cities where Maldivians commonly reside have not been flooded. However, four houses in Colombo where Maldivian families live have been evacuated due to rising water levels.

He added that the first requests for assistance came from Maldivian pilot students in Negombo. The group of 35 students has since been provided with food and other basic necessities. Additional requests have come from Maldivians living in Sri Lanka for various purposes.

Embassy staff also shared photos on Monday showing their involvement in field assistance during the flooding.

According to Anwar, the images were taken while they were on their way to help a disabled person whose family sought assistance after floodwater entered their home.

When the embassy received the call, the house had one foot of water. By the time staff arrived, the water had risen to four feet.

“A river with crocodiles had overflowed in the area. We walked part of the way and then found a dinghy to move the family to safety,” Anwar said.

He said that he had not expected the water level to be that high. In some locations, floodwaters have reached 12 feet.

Approximately 1,800 Maldivians currently reside in Sri Lanka on resident visas, while many more enter the country on tourist visas.