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Sri Lankan actor and musician GK Reginold rides in a small craft through flooded neighborhoods, aiming to bring 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 recent years.

Cyclone Ditwah lashed the country last week, causing catastrophic floods and landslides that killed more than 400 people, with hundreds missing and leveled 20,000 homes.

But the deluge has also inspired a surge in community help, as citizens face what national leaders has described as the "most challenging natural disaster" in its history.

"The main reason 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 state of emergency has been announced.

The military has sent helicopters for search and rescue, while relief assistance is arriving from international partners and aid groups.

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

Activists Pitch In at Community Kitchen

In Colombo's Wijerama neighbourhood, activists who demonstrated in 2022 are now operating a makeshift kitchen that produces food aid.

The demonstrations from three years ago were driven by a severe economic downturn that caused shortages of fuel, food and medicine. Public anger erupted and led to political change. Now, that political activism is being directed toward disaster response.

"Some volunteers came after work, some rotated shifts 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 affected hundreds across the country.

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

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

Digital Campaigns for Support

A flurry of activity is also happening online, where social media users have created a public database to channel resources and helpers.

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

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

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

Opposition politicians have accused authorities of disregarding weather warnings, which they say worsened the disaster's impact.

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

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

"In the end, the satisfaction of helping someone else to save lives makes that exhaustion fade," the organizer wrote after working long hours at relief sites.

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