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Sri Lankan actor and musician GK Reginold rides in a motorised fishing boat through Colombo's suburbs, hoping to deliver food and water to those in desperate need.

Some of the families, he explains, have not received aid for days, isolated by the country's most severe natural catastrophe in memory.

Cyclone Ditwah struck the country last week, bringing widespread destruction that claimed the lives of more than 400 people, left hundreds missing and leveled 20,000 homes.

But the deluge has also inspired a surge in community help, as people 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 help them to have one meal," Mr Reginold states. "And I was so happy that I was able to do that."

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

The military has sent helicopters for search and rescue, while humanitarian aid is flowing in from international partners and aid groups.

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 Volunteer at Local Food Hub

In Colombo's Wijerama neighbourhood, activists who protested in 2022 are now operating a community kitchen that churns out food aid.

The protests from three years ago were fuelled by a spiralling economic crisis that caused lack of fuel, food and medicine. Public anger exploded and led to a leadership shift. Now, that civic energy is being channelled 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 reactivated the group as soon as we heard what was happening last Thursday," he says.

The organizer also considers the kitchen as an "extension" of his community service in 2016, when heavy rains and floods killed hundreds across the country.

Volunteers have compiled hundreds of calls for assistance, shared them to authorities, and organized 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 flurry of activity is also happening on the internet, where social media users have created a shared list to channel resources and volunteers.

Another community-run website helps supporters find relief camps and see what is in highest demand in those areas.

Private companies have organized donation drives, while local television channels have started an effort to provide food and essential items like soap and toothbrushes.

Amid criticism over the management of storm readiness, the president has urged citizens to "set aside all divisions" and "unite to rebuild the nation".

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

Recently, opposition lawmakers staged a walkout in parliament, claiming that the government was trying to restrict debate on the disaster.

In affected communities, however, there remains a sense of unity as people begin the cleanup after the floods.

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

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