(MENAFN) In the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, Sri Lankan actor and musician GK Reginold navigates Colombo’s suburbs on a motorised fishing boat to deliver essential supplies to families cut off by flooding and landslides. Many of these households had not received any assistance for several days, as reported by local updates.

The powerful storm, which struck last week, caused severe floods and landslides, claiming over 460 lives, leaving hundreds missing, and destroying approximately 30,000 homes.

Despite the devastation, the disaster has ignited a surge of community volunteerism across the nation, confronting what the president has described as the "most challenging natural disaster" in Sri Lanka's history. "The main reason why I wanted to do this, is to at least help them to have one meal," Mr Reginold said. "And I was so happy that I was able to do that."

Over one million people have been affected, prompting a national state of emergency. The military has been deployed with helicopters to assist in rescue operations, and international aid from various governments and humanitarian organizations has begun to arrive, according to official statements.

Recovery is expected to be a long and challenging process for a country already grappling with previous economic and political difficulties. In Colombo's Wijerama neighborhood, activists who participated in anti-government protests in 2022 are now running community kitchens to provide food to those affected.

These protests had been driven by a severe economic crisis that caused shortages of fuel, food, and medicine, ultimately leading to the ousting of the former president. Many of those involved in past political activism are now channeling their efforts into cyclone relief work.

"Some volunteers came after work, some took turns and some even took leave to be there," said Sasindu Sahan Tharaka, a social media activist. "We reactivated the group as soon as we heard what was happening last Thursday."

Mr Sahan described the kitchen as an "extension" of his volunteer work in 2016, when floods killed 250 people nationwide. Volunteers have compiled hundreds of assistance requests, submitted them to authorities, and organized food distribution for local residents. "Whatever we asked for, we got more than enough in response from the community," he added.

Online efforts are also playing a major role in the relief operation. Social media users have established public databases to coordinate donations and volunteers, while other platforms help donors identify relief camps and track critical supply needs. Local businesses have initiated donation drives, and television networks are contributing by providing food and essential items such as soap and toothbrushes.

President Dissanayake, facing criticism over disaster preparedness, has urged citizens to "set aside all political differences" and "come together to rebuild the nation." Opposition members have accused the government of ignoring early weather warnings, which they say worsened the disaster's effects, and staged a parliamentary walkout, alleging attempts to limit debate on the issue.

On the ground, the spirit of cooperation remains strong as communities work to recover. "In the end, the joy of helping someone else to save lives makes that tiredness fade," Mr Sahan wrote in a social media post after long shifts at community kitchens and other relief sites. "Disasters are not new to us. But, the empathy and capacity of our hearts is greater than the destruction that occurs during a disaster."

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