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

Some of the families, Mr Reginold says, have gone without help for days, cut off by the South Asian island nation's worst weather disaster in memory.

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

But the deluge has also sparked 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," Mr Reginold states. "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 national emergency has been announced.

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 recovery for the nation, which has seen its fair share of turmoil in recent years.

Community Organizers Pitch In at Community Kitchen

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

The protests from three years ago were fuelled by a spiralling economic crisis that caused shortages of fuel, food and medicine. Widespread frustration exploded and led to political change. Now, that civic energy 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 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 killed hundreds across the country.

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

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

Digital Initiatives for Aid

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

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

Local businesses have organized fundraising efforts, while local television channels have started an campaign to provide food and basic necessities like soap and toothbrushes.

Facing criticism over the management of storm readiness, the president has urged citizens to "put aside all divisions" and "unite to restore the nation".

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

Recently, opposition lawmakers protested in parliament, arguing 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.

"In the end, the satisfaction of helping someone else in a crisis makes that tiredness fade," one volunteer wrote after putting in long hours at aid centers.

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