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

Some of the families, he explains, have not received aid for days, isolated by the country's worst weather disaster in recent years.

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

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

"My primary motivation for getting involved, is to at least help them to have one meal," he shares. "And I was so happy that I was able to do that."

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

The armed forces has sent helicopters for rescue operations, while humanitarian aid is flowing in from foreign governments and non-governmental organisations.

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

Community Organizers Volunteer at Community Kitchen

In Colombo's Wijerama neighbourhood, individuals who demonstrated in 2022 are now helping run a community kitchen that churns out meals.

The demonstrations 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.

"People came after work, some rotated shifts and some even took leave 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 views the kitchen as an "continuation" of his volunteer work in 2016, when torrential rain and floods killed hundreds across the country.

Volunteers have compiled hundreds of calls for assistance, shared them to authorities, and managed the distribution of food.

"Whatever we asked for, we got more than enough in response from the community," he notes.

Digital Initiatives for Support

A flurry of activity is also happening on the internet, where social media users have created a shared list to direct donations and helpers.

Another volunteer-backed website helps supporters find shelters and identify what is most needed in those areas.

Local businesses have organized fundraising efforts, while local television channels 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 weather warnings, which they say worsened the disaster's impact.

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

In affected communities, however, there remains a sense of unity as people pick up the pieces after the floods.

"Ultimately, the joy of helping someone else to save lives makes that exhaustion fade," one volunteer wrote after putting in long hours at relief sites.

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