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Sri Lankan actor and musician GK Reginold navigates a small craft through Colombo's suburbs, aiming to bring essential supplies to those in urgent circumstances.

Many families, Mr Reginold says, have not received aid for days, isolated by the country's most severe weather disaster in recent years.

Cyclone Ditwah struck the country last week, causing widespread destruction that claimed the lives of more than 400 people, left hundreds unaccounted for and destroyed 20,000 homes.

But the deluge has also sparked a rise 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 affected by the disaster and a state of emergency has been announced.

The armed forces has deployed helicopters for search and rescue, while relief assistance is arriving from international partners and non-governmental organisations.

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

Activists Pitch In at Community Kitchen

In Colombo's Wijerama neighbourhood, activists who demonstrated in 2022 are now helping run a makeshift kitchen that produces 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 a leadership shift. Now, that civic energy is being channelled toward cyclone relief.

"Some volunteers came after work, some took turns and some even took leave 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 "continuation" of his community service in 2016, when heavy rains and floods killed hundreds across the country.

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

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

Digital Initiatives for Aid

A wave of coordination is also happening online, where netizens have created a public database to channel resources and helpers.

Another volunteer-backed website helps donors find relief camps and see what is in highest demand in those areas.

Private companies have launched fundraising efforts, while media outlets have started an campaign to provide food and basic necessities like soap and toothbrushes.

Facing criticism over the management of preparations, the president has urged citizens to "put aside all divisions" and "come together to restore the nation".

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

Recently, opposition lawmakers protested in parliament, arguing that the government was trying to restrict debate on the disaster.

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

"Ultimately, the satisfaction of helping someone else to save lives makes that tiredness fade," one volunteer wrote after putting in long hours at aid centers.

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