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Sri Lankan actor and musician GK Reginold rides in a small craft through flooded neighborhoods, hoping to deliver essential supplies to those in desperate need.

Many families, he explains, have not received aid for days, cut off by the South Asian island nation's most severe weather disaster in memory.

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

But the deluge has also sparked a surge in community help, as people face what the president 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," Mr Reginold states. "And I was deeply gratified 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 declared.

The armed forces has deployed helicopters for rescue operations, while humanitarian aid is arriving from international partners and non-governmental organisations.

But it will be a long journey to recovery for the nation, which has seen its 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 demonstrations from three years ago were fuelled by a severe economic downturn that caused lack 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," 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 community service in 2016, when heavy rains and floods affected hundreds across the country.

The team have gathered hundreds of requests for help, shared them to authorities, and managed the delivery of food.

"Whatever we asked for, we got an overwhelming amount in response from the community," he says.

Digital Campaigns for Support

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

Another community-run website helps donors find relief camps and identify what is most needed in those areas.

Private companies have launched fundraising efforts, while local television channels have initiated an effort to provide food and essential items like soap and toothbrushes.

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

Critics have claimed authorities of ignoring weather warnings, which they say exacerbated the disaster's impact.

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

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

"In the end, the satisfaction of helping someone else in a crisis makes that exhaustion fade," the organizer wrote after putting in long hours at relief sites.

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