🔗 Share this article Cyclone Catastrophe in Sri Lanka Awakens a Spirit of Volunteerism See: Sri Lankan communities submerged after devastating rains. Sri Lankan actor and musician GK Reginold rides in a small craft through Colombo's suburbs, hoping to deliver essential supplies to those in desperate need. Some of the families, he explains, have gone without help for days, cut off by the country's worst weather disaster in recent years. Cyclone Ditwah lashed the country last week, causing catastrophic floods and landslides that killed more than 400 people, left hundreds unaccounted for and destroyed 20,000 homes. But the flooding has also sparked a rise in community help, as people face what the president has described as the "gravest 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." Volunteers have been taking small vessels out to evacuate people and deliver aid. More than one million people have been impacted by the disaster and a national emergency has been announced. The armed forces has deployed helicopters for search and rescue, while relief assistance is arriving from foreign governments and non-governmental organisations. But it will be a lengthy process to rebuild for Sri Lanka, which has seen its fair share of turmoil in recent years. Activists Volunteer at Local Food Hub In Colombo's Wijerama neighbourhood, activists who protested in 2022 are now helping run a makeshift kitchen that churns out meals. The protests from three years ago were driven by a severe economic downturn that caused lack of fuel, food and medicine. Widespread frustration exploded and led to a leadership shift. Now, that political activism is being directed toward cyclone relief. "People came after work, some took turns 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. At a local kitchen in Wijerama, helpers cook food for flood-affected residents. The organizer also considers the kitchen as an "continuation" of his volunteer work in 2016, when torrential rain and floods affected hundreds across the country. The team have gathered hundreds of calls for assistance, sent the information to authorities, and managed the delivery of food. "Whatever we asked for, we got an overwhelming amount in response from the community," he notes. Digital Campaigns for Support 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 relief camps and see what is in highest demand in those areas. Private companies have organized fundraising efforts, while media outlets have started an effort to provide food and essential items like soap and toothbrushes. Amid criticism over the handling of storm readiness, the president has urged citizens to "put aside all political differences" and "unite to restore the nation". Opposition politicians have claimed authorities of disregarding weather warnings, which they say exacerbated the disaster's impact. Recently, opposition lawmakers protested in parliament, claiming that the government was trying to restrict debate on the disaster. In affected communities, however, there remains a feeling of togetherness as people begin the cleanup after the floods. "In the end, the satisfaction of helping someone else in a crisis makes that tiredness fade," the organizer wrote after working long hours at relief sites. "Crises are not new to us. But, the compassion and size of our hearts is larger than the destruction that occurs during a disaster."