🔗 Share this article

Sri Lankan actor and musician 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, isolated by the South Asian island nation's most severe weather disaster in memory.

Cyclone Ditwah struck the country last week, causing catastrophic floods and landslides 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 the president has described as the "most challenging natural disaster" in its history.

"My primary motivation for getting involved, is to at least ensure they get one meal," Mr Reginold states. "And I was so happy 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 deployed helicopters for rescue operations, while humanitarian aid 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 fair share of difficulties in recent years.

Community Organizers Pitch In at Community Kitchen

In Colombo's Wijerama neighbourhood, individuals who protested in 2022 are now operating a makeshift kitchen that churns out meals.

The demonstrations from three years ago were driven by a spiralling economic crisis that caused shortages of fuel, food and medicine. Widespread frustration exploded and led to a leadership shift. Now, that political activism 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 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 volunteer work in 2016, when torrential rain and floods affected hundreds across the country.

The team have gathered hundreds of calls for assistance, shared them to authorities, and managed the delivery of food.

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

Digital Initiatives for Support

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

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

Private companies 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 handling of storm readiness, the president has urged citizens to "put aside all divisions" and "unite to restore the nation".

Opposition politicians have accused authorities of disregarding forecasts, which they say exacerbated the disaster's effects.

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

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

"Ultimately, the joy of helping someone else to save lives makes that exhaustion fade," the organizer wrote after working long hours at aid centers.

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