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

Some of the families, Mr Reginold says, have not received aid for days, isolated by the country's most severe natural catastrophe in memory.

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

But the deluge has also inspired a surge in community help, as citizens 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," he shares. "And I was deeply gratified 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 relief assistance is arriving from international partners and aid groups.

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

Community Organizers Volunteer at Community Kitchen

In a Colombo suburb, individuals who protested in 2022 are now helping run a community kitchen that churns out meals.

The demonstrations from three years ago were driven by a severe economic downturn that caused lack of fuel, food and medicine. Public anger erupted and led to political change. Now, that civic energy is being channelled toward cyclone relief.

"People came after work, some rotated shifts and some even took leave to be there," a social media activist 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.

The team have gathered hundreds of calls for assistance, sent the information to authorities, and organized the distribution of food.

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

Digital Campaigns for Aid

A wave of coordination is also happening on the internet, where social media users have created a shared list to direct donations and helpers.

Another volunteer-backed website helps supporters find relief camps and identify what is most needed in those areas.

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

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

Critics have accused authorities of ignoring forecasts, which they say exacerbated the disaster's impact.

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

In affected communities, however, there remains a sense 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 aid centers.

"Crises are not new to us. But, the empathy and size of our hearts is larger than the damage that occurs during a disaster."