Late last night the vessel Maldives State Shipping’s MSS Galena set sail from Malé, carrying 14 containers loaded with 25,000 cases of canned tuna donated by the Government of Maldives as part of its humanitarian relief package for Sri Lanka. The aid dispatch follows a directive by Dr Mohamed Muizzu, reflecting Maldives’ commitment to extend support after the devastation caused by recent floods and landslides in Sri Lanka.
MSS — the national shipping line — is a wholly-owned subsidiary of State Trading Organization Plc (STO), the public enterprise tasked with safeguarding the nation’s logistics and supply chains. Using a state-owned vessel underlines the government’s assertion of responsibility and control over core national infrastructure and humanitarian logistics.
The dispatched consignment — reportedly the largest in-kind contribution by Maldives in this relief operation — complements a parallel financial aid pledge of USD 50,000 by the Maldives government. Officials confirmed that MSS Galena is en route to Colombo and will deliver the supplies directly to Sri Lankan relief agencies for distribution to the hardest-hit communities.
The gesture underscores President Muizzu’s vision of reinforcing regional solidarity with Sri Lanka, reinforcing historical bonds of cooperation in trade, social welfare, and emergency support. The use of a national-flagged, state-owned shipping line adds symbolic and practical weight to the donation, serving both logistical efficiency and political messaging.
The relief package ties into a broader nationwide mobilisation of support through a media-led telethon. The event, titled “Ceylon aa eku Dhivehin” (Maldivians with Ceylon), concluded with approximately LKR 230.9 million raised for Sri Lanka relief efforts.
This combined humanitarian effort, with canned-food supplies, cash donations and broad public participation, stands as a strong signal of Maldives’ readiness to shoulder responsibility for regional solidarity — and reaffirms the government’s commitment to serve as a reliable partner in times of crisis.
