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

Many families, he explains, have gone without help for days, cut off by the South Asian island nation's worst natural catastrophe in recent years.

Cyclone Ditwah lashed the country last week, causing widespread destruction that claimed the lives of more than 400 people, with hundreds missing and leveled 20,000 homes.

But the deluge has also inspired a surge in volunteerism, as people face what national leaders has described as the "most challenging natural disaster" in its history.

"The main reason why I wanted to do this, is to at least help them to have one meal," Mr Reginold states. "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 announced.

The military has sent helicopters for search and rescue, while humanitarian aid is flowing in from foreign governments and aid groups.

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

Community Organizers Volunteer at Community Kitchen

In a Colombo suburb, activists who demonstrated in 2022 are now operating a community kitchen that produces meals.

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

"Some volunteers came after work, some rotated shifts and some even used vacation time 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 volunteer work in 2016, when torrential rain and floods killed hundreds across the country.

Volunteers have gathered hundreds of requests for help, shared them to authorities, and organized the distribution of food.

"Whatever we asked for, we got an overwhelming amount in response from the community," he says.

Digital Initiatives for Support

A wave of coordination is also happening online, where social media users have created a public database to direct donations and helpers.

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

Local businesses have launched fundraising efforts, while local television channels have started an effort to provide food and essential items like soap and toothbrushes.

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

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

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

In affected communities, however, there remains a sense of unity as people pick up the pieces after the floods.

"In the end, the satisfaction of helping someone else to save lives makes that tiredness 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 destruction that occurs during a disaster."