President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has sent a message of solidarity to the President of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa following the disastrous fire aboard a container vessel off the nation's coast.
In his message, President Solih said he has been following the news of the container vessel which caught fire off the coast of Sri Lanka last week, resulting in an unprecedented maritime and ecological disaster. The president expressed his deepest sympathies to the president, the government, and the people of Sri Lanka as they face a maritime and ecological challenge. He said that, as an Indian Ocean island state, the Maldives relies heavily on the ocean for income, food, and survival, and understands the consequences of such disasters on the country's economy and society.
Furthermore, President Solih said his government and the people of the Maldives stand in solidarity with Sri Lanka during their efforts to contain and combat the effects of the disaster. He also expressed confidence that the strong bonds of friendship between the neighbouring countries will continue to endure.
The container ship MV X-Press Pearl has been smouldering for 10 days after it caught fire while waiting to enter the Port of Colombo. The disaster has caused a pollution crisis as waves of plastic pellets and other hazardous waste hit the coast, threatening to devastate the local environment as well as Sri Lanka's fishing and tourism sectors. Sri Lankan authorities have stated the pollution could cause years of ecological damage.