🔗 Share this article

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.

Many families, he explains, have gone without help for days, cut off by the South Asian island nation's most severe weather disaster in memory.

Cyclone Ditwah struck the country last week, bringing widespread destruction that killed more than 400 people, with hundreds missing and destroyed 20,000 homes.

But the deluge has also inspired a surge in volunteerism, as citizens face what the president has described as the "most challenging natural disaster" in its history.

"The main reason why I wanted to do this, 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 impacted by the disaster and a national emergency has been declared.

The armed forces has deployed helicopters for search and rescue, while relief assistance is flowing in 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, individuals who demonstrated in 2022 are now operating a community kitchen that produces meals.

The demonstrations from three years ago were fuelled by a spiralling economic crisis that caused lack of fuel, food and medicine. Widespread frustration erupted and led to a leadership shift. Now, that civic energy is being directed toward disaster response.

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

"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 community service 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.

"Whatever we asked for, 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 direct donations and volunteers.

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

Local businesses have launched donation drives, while media outlets have started 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 "set aside all divisions" and "unite to rebuild the nation".

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

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

On the ground, however, there remains a sense of togetherness as people pick up the pieces after the floods.

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

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