MSS ship carrying 25,000 cases of canned fish departs for Sri Lanka

A Maldives State Shipping (MSS) vessel has departed Male' carrying 25,000 cases of canned fish as part of the Maldives’ humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka following the devastation caused by cyclone Ditwah.

The MSS Galena, loaded with 14 containers containing the aid, left Male' at 12:30 am last night and is expected to reach Colombo at around 11:30 am tomorrow.

The Galena, purchased in 2021, is MSS’s first privately owned cargo vessel.

In addition to the shipment, the Maldivian government yesterday handed over USD 50,000 in financial assistance to the Sri Lankan government.

Maldivian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Masood Imad presented the donation to Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath at a ceremony held at the Foreign Ministry in Colombo.

The government’s aid package totals USD 50,000 and 25,000 cases of canned fish equivalent to 1.2 million cans. Public Service Media (PSM) also presented USD 800,352 (MVR 12.3 million), raised through the Ceylon Aa Eku Dhivehin telethon, to the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry.

Several major Maldivian businesses have additionally contributed large donations through the Sri Lankan Embassy in Male', while private individuals and community groups continue launching fundraising initiatives.

Cyclone Ditwah and the ensuing heavy rains have triggered severe flooding and landslides across Sri Lanka, causing damage reportedly exceeding that of the 2004 tsunami in several regions. The death toll has surpassed 400, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in the country’s recent history.