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Sri Lankan actor and musician GK Reginold rides in a motorised fishing boat through Colombo's suburbs, aiming to bring 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 country's most severe natural catastrophe in memory.

The powerful storm struck the country last week, bringing widespread destruction that killed more than 400 people, with hundreds unaccounted for and destroyed 20,000 homes.

But the flooding has also inspired a surge in community help, as citizens face what national leaders 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," he shares. "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 armed forces has deployed helicopters for rescue operations, while humanitarian aid is flowing in from foreign governments and aid groups.

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

Community Organizers Volunteer at Community Kitchen

In Colombo's Wijerama neighbourhood, individuals who protested in 2022 are now helping run a makeshift kitchen that churns out food aid.

The demonstrations from three years ago were driven by a severe economic downturn that caused shortages of fuel, food and medicine. Widespread frustration exploded and led to a leadership shift. Now, that civic energy is being channelled toward cyclone relief.

"People came after work, some rotated shifts and some even used vacation time to be there," a social media activist states.

"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 volunteer work in 2016, when torrential rain and floods killed hundreds across the country.

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

"Every request we made, we got an overwhelming amount in response from the community," he says.

Online Campaigns for Aid

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 shelters and see what is most needed in those areas.

Private companies have organized fundraising efforts, while local television channels have initiated an campaign to provide food and basic necessities like soap and toothbrushes.

Amid criticism over the handling of preparations, the president has urged citizens to "put aside all divisions" and "unite to rebuild the nation".

Critics have accused authorities of disregarding weather warnings, which they say exacerbated the disaster's impact.

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

On the ground, however, there remains a feeling of unity as people begin the cleanup after the floods.

"Ultimately, the joy of helping someone else in a crisis makes that exhaustion fade," the organizer wrote after putting in long hours at aid centers.

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