The government of Maldives has decided to donate financial aid and cases of canned fish to Sri Lanka as the country continues to face severe torrential rains.

Heavy rainfall and strong winds have disrupted daily life across many areas of Sri Lanka, triggering severe flooding and landslides.

So far, 56 individuals have died due to the floods caused by the ongoing rains.

In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the Maldives will donate USD 50,000 in financial assistance, along with 25,000 cases of canned fish.

The ministry said the decision was made to support Sri Lanka as it works to recover from the damage and hardships caused by heavy rainfall across the country due to Cyclone Ditwah.

The ministry added that the assistance reflects the close friendly relations between the two countries and signifies that the Maldivian people stand with the people of Sri Lanka during this difficult time.

The Maldives expressed hope that the aid will provide some comfort to those affected and offer relief to the ongoing efforts of the Sri Lankan government.

Sri Lanka remains under a red alert and local media report that the country is facing a major national disaster. According to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), 56 deaths have been recorded, 21 remain missing and 14 have been injured in incidents linked to the cyclone.

The DMC reported that 43,991 individuals from 12,313 families have been affected. Four houses have been completely destroyed and 666 houses across several districts have sustained partial damage.

Reports also indicate that several flights were diverted from Bandaranaike International Airport due to the severe weather conditions.