🔗 Share this article

Local performer GK Reginold rides in a motorised fishing boat through Colombo's suburbs, hoping to bring food and water to those in desperate need.

Some of the families, he explains, have not received aid for days, cut off by the country's worst weather disaster in memory.

Cyclone Ditwah struck the country last week, causing catastrophic floods and landslides that killed more than 400 people, left hundreds unaccounted for and leveled 20,000 homes.

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

"My primary motivation why I wanted to do this, is to at least ensure they get 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 announced.

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

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

Community Organizers Volunteer at Community Kitchen

In a Colombo suburb, individuals who protested in 2022 are now helping run a community kitchen that churns out food aid.

The demonstrations from three years ago were fuelled by a severe economic downturn that caused lack of fuel, food and medicine. Public anger exploded and led to political change. Now, that political activism is being channelled toward disaster response.

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

"We reactivated the group 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 torrential rain and floods affected hundreds across the country.

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

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

Online Initiatives for Aid

A wave of coordination is also happening on the internet, where netizens have created a shared list to channel resources and helpers.

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Ultimately, the satisfaction of helping someone else in a crisis makes that tiredness fade," the organizer wrote after working 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."