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Local actor and musician GK Reginold navigates a motorised fishing boat through Colombo's suburbs, aiming to deliver essential supplies to those in urgent circumstances.

Many families, he explains, have not received aid for days, isolated by the South Asian island nation's worst natural catastrophe in recent years.

The powerful storm lashed the country last week, bringing widespread destruction that killed more than 400 people, left hundreds missing and destroyed 20,000 homes.

But the flooding has also inspired a rise 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 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 national emergency has been declared.

The military has sent helicopters for rescue operations, while relief assistance is arriving from international partners and non-governmental organisations.

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

Community Organizers Volunteer at Community Kitchen

In Colombo's Wijerama neighbourhood, activists who demonstrated in 2022 are now helping run a community kitchen that produces food aid.

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 political change. Now, that civic energy is being directed toward disaster response.

"Some volunteers came after work, some took turns and some even took leave to be there," one organizer states.

"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 community service in 2016, when heavy rains and floods affected hundreds across the country.

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

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

Digital Campaigns for Aid

A flurry of activity is also happening online, where social media users have created a shared list to channel resources and helpers.

Another volunteer-backed website helps donors find shelters and see what is most needed in those areas.

Private companies have organized fundraising efforts, while media outlets have initiated an effort to provide food and essential items like soap and toothbrushes.

Facing criticism over the handling of storm readiness, the president has urged citizens to "set aside all political differences" and "come together to restore the nation".

Critics have claimed authorities of disregarding weather warnings, which they say exacerbated the disaster's effects.

Recently, opposition lawmakers staged a walkout in parliament, claiming that the ruling party was trying to restrict debate on the disaster.

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

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

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