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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.

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

The powerful storm lashed the country last week, causing catastrophic floods and landslides that claimed the lives of more than 400 people, left hundreds unaccounted for and leveled 20,000 homes.

But the deluge has also sparked a rise in community help, as citizens 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 so happy 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 rescue operations, while humanitarian aid is arriving from international partners and non-governmental organisations.

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

Activists Volunteer at Community Kitchen

In a Colombo suburb, activists who demonstrated in 2022 are now operating a makeshift kitchen that churns out meals.

The protests from three years ago were driven by a severe economic downturn that caused lack of fuel, food and medicine. Widespread frustration erupted and led to a leadership shift. Now, that civic energy 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 heavy rains and floods affected hundreds across the country.

Volunteers have compiled hundreds of requests for help, sent the information to authorities, and organized the distribution of food.

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

Online Campaigns for Support

A wave of coordination is also happening on the internet, where social media users have created a public database to channel resources and helpers.

Another community-run website helps donors find shelters and see what is in highest demand in those areas.

Private companies have organized fundraising efforts, while local television channels have initiated an effort to provide food and basic necessities like soap and toothbrushes.

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

Critics have accused authorities of disregarding weather warnings, 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 togetherness as people begin the cleanup after the floods.

"Ultimately, the joy of helping someone else to save lives makes that exhaustion fade," the organizer wrote after working long hours at relief sites.

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