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Sri Lankan performer GK Reginold rides in a motorised fishing boat through flooded neighborhoods, aiming to deliver essential supplies to those in urgent circumstances.

Many families, he explains, have gone without help for days, cut off by the South Asian island nation's most severe natural catastrophe in memory.

Cyclone Ditwah struck the country last week, bringing catastrophic floods and landslides that killed more than 400 people, with hundreds unaccounted for and leveled 20,000 homes.

But the flooding has also inspired a surge in volunteerism, as citizens face what national leaders has described as the "gravest natural disaster" in its history.

"The main reason why I wanted to do this, is to at least ensure they get one meal," he shares. "And I was deeply gratified that I was able to do that."

More than one million people have been affected by the disaster and a national emergency has been announced.

The military has sent helicopters for rescue operations, while humanitarian aid is arriving from foreign governments and non-governmental organisations.

But it will be a long journey to recovery for Sri Lanka, which has seen its fair share of difficulties in recent years.

Community Organizers Pitch In at Local Food Hub

In Colombo's Wijerama neighbourhood, activists who demonstrated in 2022 are now helping run a makeshift kitchen that churns out food aid.

The demonstrations from three years ago were fuelled by a severe economic downturn that caused lack of fuel, food and medicine. Widespread frustration erupted and led to a leadership shift. Now, that civic energy is being directed toward cyclone relief.

"Some volunteers came after work, some rotated shifts and some even used vacation time to be there," a social media activist states.

"We mobilized our network as soon as we heard what was happening last Thursday," he says.

The organizer also views the kitchen as an "continuation" of his community service in 2016, when torrential rain and floods affected hundreds across the country.

The team have gathered hundreds of calls for assistance, shared them to authorities, and managed the delivery of food.

"Every request we made, we got more than enough in response from the community," he notes.

Online Campaigns for Support

A wave of coordination is also happening on the internet, where netizens have created a public database to channel resources and helpers.

Another community-run website helps donors find relief camps and identify what is most needed in those areas.

Local businesses have organized donation drives, while media outlets have started an campaign to provide food and essential items like soap and toothbrushes.

Amid criticism over the handling of storm readiness, the president has urged citizens to "set aside all political differences" and "unite to restore the nation".

Critics have accused authorities of disregarding forecasts, which they say worsened the disaster's impact.

Recently, opposition lawmakers protested in parliament, claiming that the ruling party was trying to restrict debate on the disaster.

On the ground, however, there remains a feeling of togetherness as people begin the cleanup after the floods.

"In the end, the satisfaction of helping someone else to save lives makes that exhaustion fade," one volunteer wrote after working long hours at aid centers.

"Crises are not new to us. But, the empathy and size of our hearts is greater than the destruction that occurs during a disaster."