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Local actor and musician 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, isolated by the country's worst natural catastrophe in memory.

The powerful storm lashed the country last week, bringing widespread destruction that claimed the lives of more than 400 people, with hundreds missing and leveled 20,000 homes.

But the flooding has also sparked a surge in community help, as people face what national leaders has described as the "gravest 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 state of emergency has been announced.

The military has deployed helicopters for search and rescue, while humanitarian aid is arriving from foreign governments and non-governmental organisations.

But it will be a long journey to rebuild for Sri Lanka, which has seen its share of turmoil in recent years.

Activists Pitch In at Local Food Hub

In a Colombo suburb, activists who protested in 2022 are now operating a community kitchen that churns out food aid.

The protests from three years ago were driven by a severe economic downturn that caused shortages of fuel, food and medicine. Widespread frustration erupted and led to political change. Now, that civic energy is being directed toward cyclone relief.

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

"We mobilized our network 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 killed hundreds across the country.

The team have compiled hundreds of calls for assistance, sent the information to authorities, and managed the delivery of food.

"Every request we made, we got more than enough in response from the community," he notes.

Online Initiatives for Aid

A flurry of activity is also happening on the internet, where netizens have created a shared list to channel resources and volunteers.

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

Local businesses have launched donation drives, while media outlets have started an campaign to provide food and basic necessities like soap and toothbrushes.

Amid criticism over the management 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 effects.

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

In affected communities, however, there remains a feeling of unity as people begin the cleanup after the floods.

"In the end, the satisfaction of helping someone else in a crisis makes that exhaustion fade," the organizer wrote after putting in long hours at relief sites.

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