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Local actor and musician GK Reginold navigates 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 most severe natural catastrophe 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 missing and leveled 20,000 homes.

But the deluge has also sparked 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 ensure they get one meal," he shares. "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 state of emergency has been declared.

The armed forces has sent helicopters for rescue operations, while relief assistance is flowing in from international partners and aid groups.

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 Local Food Hub

In Colombo's Wijerama neighbourhood, 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 spiralling economic crisis that caused lack of fuel, food and medicine. Public anger exploded and led to a leadership shift. Now, that civic energy is being channelled toward cyclone relief.

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

"We reactivated the group 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 torrential rain and floods killed hundreds across the country.

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

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

Digital Initiatives for Aid

A wave of coordination is also happening online, where social media users have created a public database to channel resources and volunteers.

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

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

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

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

Recently, opposition lawmakers protested 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.

"In the end, the joy of helping someone else in a crisis makes that tiredness fade," one volunteer 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."