Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohamed Asim met with his Sri Lankan counterpart Ravi Karunanayake, where he handed over financial assistance from the government of Maldives, as Lanka continues to suffer through worst flooding in 14 years.

Minister Asim departed to Sri Lanka on Tuesday, with the President’s Office announcing that the Minister was visiting Lanka in his capacity as a representative of President Abdulla Yameen.

In addition to conveying condolences from the government and the people of Maldives to Sri Lanka following “the flooding and landslides that occurred due to torrential rains resulting in the loss of several innocent lives, damages to infrastructure and a significant disruption of lives of hundreds of people”, Minister Asim assured that Maldives stands with Sri Lanka during this difficult time.

During the meeting, he handed over the financial assistance from the government of Maldives to the government of Sri Lanka, to Minister Karunanayake.

President Yameen sent sympathy messages to both President Maithripala Sirisena and Vice President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Sunday, wishing the Lankan government success “in the rescue and recovery efforts of those directly affected by this tragedy”.

At least 194 people have been killed and nearly 100 are missing following the rains that began swamping the southern and western areas of Sri Lanka last Friday, with around a half a million-people displaced. Red Cross said that the bad weather is expected to continue over the region.

As it faces its worst floods since 2003, Lanka had appealed for international assistance on Sunday. India was the first to respond, dispatching three Navy ships with emergency supplies, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi directing to provide all necessary assistance in Lanka’s rescue and relief efforts.