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Local actor and musician GK Reginold navigates a motorised fishing boat through Colombo's suburbs, hoping to bring essential supplies to those in urgent circumstances.

Many families, he explains, have not received aid for days, cut off by the South Asian island nation's worst weather disaster in memory.

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

But the deluge has also sparked a rise in community help, as people face what national leaders has described as the "most challenging 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 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 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 difficulties in recent years.

Activists Volunteer at Community Kitchen

In Colombo's Wijerama neighbourhood, activists who demonstrated in 2022 are now helping run 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 exploded and led to political change. 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," 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 "extension" of his community service in 2016, when heavy rains and floods killed hundreds across the country.

Volunteers have compiled hundreds of calls for assistance, sent the information to authorities, and organized the distribution of food.

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

Online Initiatives for Aid

A flurry of activity is also happening on the internet, where social media users have created a public database to channel resources and volunteers.

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

Local businesses have launched fundraising efforts, while local television channels have initiated an effort to provide food and basic necessities like soap and toothbrushes.

Amid criticism over the management of preparations, the president has urged citizens to "put aside all political differences" and "unite to restore the nation".

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

Recently, opposition lawmakers staged a walkout in parliament, arguing that the ruling party was trying to restrict debate on the disaster.

In affected communities, however, there remains a feeling of togetherness as people pick up the pieces after the floods.

"Ultimately, the joy of helping someone else to save lives makes that exhaustion fade," one volunteer wrote after putting in long hours at relief sites.

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