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Local actor and musician GK Reginold rides in a motorised fishing boat through flooded neighborhoods, aiming to bring food and water to those in desperate need.

Many families, he explains, have gone without help for days, isolated by the South Asian island nation's worst weather disaster in recent years.

Cyclone Ditwah struck the country last week, bringing catastrophic floods and landslides that killed more than 400 people, left hundreds missing and destroyed 20,000 homes.

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

"The main reason for getting involved, is to at least help them to have one meal," Mr Reginold states. "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 national emergency has been declared.

The armed forces has sent helicopters for rescue operations, while humanitarian aid is flowing in from international partners and aid groups.

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

Community Organizers Volunteer at Local Food Hub

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

The protests from three years ago were driven by a spiralling economic crisis that caused shortages of fuel, food and medicine. Public anger exploded and led to political change. Now, that political activism is being directed toward cyclone relief.

"People came after work, some rotated shifts and some even took leave to be there," one organizer explains.

"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 torrential rain and floods killed hundreds across the country.

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

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

Online Initiatives for Aid

A flurry of activity is also happening online, where netizens have created a public database to direct donations and helpers.

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

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

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

Opposition politicians have claimed authorities of ignoring forecasts, which they say worsened the disaster's impact.

Recently, opposition lawmakers staged a walkout in parliament, arguing that the ruling party 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.

"Ultimately, the joy of helping someone else in a crisis makes that exhaustion fade," the organizer 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."