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Local actor and musician GK Reginold navigates a small craft through flooded neighborhoods, aiming to deliver food and water to those in desperate need.

Many families, Mr Reginold says, have gone without help for days, isolated by the country's most severe natural catastrophe in memory.

Cyclone Ditwah struck the country last week, bringing widespread destruction that killed more than 400 people, with hundreds unaccounted for and destroyed 20,000 homes.

But the deluge has also inspired a surge in community help, as people face what the president has described as the "gravest natural disaster" in its history.

"My primary motivation why I wanted to do this, 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 impacted by the disaster and a state of emergency has been announced.

The military has deployed helicopters for search and rescue, while humanitarian aid is flowing in from foreign governments and aid groups.

But it will be a lengthy process to rebuild for Sri Lanka, which has seen its share of turmoil in recent years.

Activists Volunteer at Community Kitchen

In a Colombo suburb, individuals who demonstrated in 2022 are now operating a community kitchen that produces food aid.

The protests from three years ago were fuelled by a spiralling economic crisis that caused shortages of fuel, food and medicine. Widespread frustration erupted and led to political change. Now, that civic energy is being directed toward disaster response.

"Some volunteers came after work, some took turns and some even took leave to be there," one organizer 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 "continuation" of his volunteer work in 2016, when heavy rains and floods killed hundreds across the country.

Volunteers have gathered hundreds of requests for help, sent the information to authorities, and organized the delivery of food.

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

Online Initiatives for Aid

A wave of coordination is also happening online, where social media users have created a shared list to channel resources and volunteers.

Another volunteer-backed website helps supporters find relief camps and see what is most needed in those areas.

Local businesses have launched 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 divisions" and "unite to restore the nation".

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

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

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

"In the end, the joy of helping someone else in a crisis makes that tiredness fade," one volunteer wrote after putting in long hours at aid centers.

"Crises are not new to us. But, the compassion and capacity of our hearts is larger than the destruction that occurs during a disaster."