Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the Maldives, Mohamed Rizvi Hassen, has said the support extended by the Maldives following Sri Lanka’s recent climate disaster will be remembered as a defining moment in the friendship between the two countries.

He made the remarks during the telethon, held to raise funds for communities affected by the severe flooding caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

Addressing the telethon, Ambassador Rizvi expressed deep gratitude to the Government and people of the Maldives for their continued solidarity during what he described as an immensely difficult period for Sri Lanka. He said the collective effort demonstrated through the nationwide fundraising initiative reflects the long-standing and close relations between the two neighbouring countries.

The ambassador noted that he had never seen a telethon of this kind before and was moved to tears by the overwhelming support being shown by Maldivians. He stressed that the significance of the event lies not in the amount collected, but in demonstrating that Maldivians stand with the people of Sri Lanka during a time of crisis.

Ambassador Rizvi assured that all assistance provided through the telethon would be used responsibly and directed towards essential recovery work. Funds raised are expected to support road repairs, rebuilding of damaged infrastructure, and the restoration of agricultural land affected by the flooding.

He added that moments of tragedy often highlight the true strength of bilateral relations, saying the compassion shown by Maldivians during this crisis reaffirms that the Maldives will continue to stand by Sri Lanka in the future. The ambassador said he is confident that the bonds between the two nations will only grow stronger in the years ahead.