Sri Lankan President hails Maldives’ support after deadly cyclone leaves hundreds dead and missing

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Maldives for its swift and generous assistance following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, which triggered widespread flooding and landslides across Sri Lanka last week.

In a post on X on Wednesday, President Dissanayake wrote:

“I am grateful to President Muizzu for his kind message and for the generous support extended by the Maldives to Sri Lanka. The solidarity demonstrated by our neighbour has been deeply reassuring to our people and reflects the strength of our longstanding relationship”.

The cyclone has claimed at least 465 lives, with 366 people still missing, and has affected over 1.1 million people, including 309,607 families. More than 180,000 individuals have been evacuated to temporary shelters.

The Maldives has responded with a coordinated relief effort:

A telethon organized by media outlets raised USD 800,000, according to state media.

The Maldivian government donated USD 50,000 and 25,000 cases of canned fish to support Sri Lanka’s recovery.

Sri Lanka and the Maldives share deep cultural and economic ties. Many Maldivians travel to Sri Lanka for education, healthcare, and business, while a significant number of Sri Lankans work in the Maldives.

President Dissanayake’s message underscores the enduring friendship between the two nations and highlights the Maldives’ role as a reliable regional partner in times of crisis.