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Local performer GK Reginold rides in a motorised fishing boat through Colombo's suburbs, aiming to bring food and water to those in desperate need.

Many families, Mr Reginold says, have not received aid for days, cut off by the South Asian island nation's most severe natural catastrophe in memory.

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

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

"My primary motivation why I wanted to do this, is to at least ensure they get one meal," he shares. "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 sent helicopters for search and rescue, while relief assistance is arriving from foreign governments and non-governmental organisations.

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

Community Organizers Pitch In at Community Kitchen

In Colombo's Wijerama neighbourhood, activists who demonstrated in 2022 are now operating a makeshift kitchen that churns out meals.

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

"People came after work, some rotated shifts and some even used vacation time to be there," one organizer explains.

"We mobilized our network as soon as we heard what was happening last Thursday," he says.

The organizer also considers the kitchen as an "extension" of his volunteer work in 2016, when heavy rains and floods affected hundreds across the country.

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

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

Online Campaigns for Support

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

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

Private companies have organized donation drives, while local television channels have started an campaign to provide food and basic necessities like soap and toothbrushes.

Amid criticism over the handling of preparations, the president has urged citizens to "set aside all divisions" and "unite to restore the nation".

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

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

In affected communities, 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 relief sites.

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