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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 weather disaster in memory.

Cyclone Ditwah lashed the country last week, bringing catastrophic floods and landslides that claimed the lives of more than 400 people, left hundreds missing and leveled 20,000 homes.

But the deluge has also inspired a rise in volunteerism, as citizens face what the president has described as the "most challenging natural disaster" in its history.

"The main reason for getting involved, is to at least ensure they get 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 state of emergency has been declared.

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

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

Activists Pitch In at Community Kitchen

In a Colombo suburb, activists who protested in 2022 are now helping run a makeshift kitchen that produces meals.

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

"Some volunteers came after work, some took turns 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 affected hundreds across the country.

Volunteers have compiled hundreds of requests for help, shared them to authorities, and organized the distribution of food.

"Every request we made, we got an overwhelming amount in response from the community," he says.

Online Campaigns for Support

A wave of coordination is also happening online, where netizens have created a public database to direct donations and volunteers.

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

Local businesses have organized donation drives, while media outlets have initiated an effort to provide food and basic necessities like soap and toothbrushes.

Facing criticism over the handling of storm readiness, the president has urged citizens to "put aside all political differences" and "unite to rebuild the nation".

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

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

On the ground, however, there remains a sense of togetherness as people pick up the pieces after the floods.

"Ultimately, the joy of helping someone else in a crisis makes that exhaustion fade," one volunteer wrote after working long hours at aid centers.

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