🔗 Share this article Tropical Storm Disaster in Sri Lanka Unleashes a Spirit of Volunteerism See: Sri Lankan communities submerged after devastating flooding. Local actor and musician GK Reginold navigates a small craft through Colombo's suburbs, aiming to deliver essential supplies to those in urgent circumstances. Many families, Mr Reginold says, have gone without help for days, cut off by the South Asian island nation's worst weather disaster in memory. Cyclone Ditwah struck the country last week, bringing catastrophic floods and landslides that claimed the lives of more than 400 people, left hundreds missing and leveled 20,000 homes. But the deluge has also sparked a rise in community help, as citizens 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 help them to have one meal," he shares. "And I was deeply gratified that I was able to do that." Volunteers have been taking small vessels out to rescue flood victims and distribute supplies. More than one million people have been affected by the disaster and a national emergency has been announced. The military has deployed helicopters for rescue operations, while relief assistance is arriving from foreign governments and aid groups. But it will be a lengthy process to recovery for Sri Lanka, which has seen its share of difficulties in recent years. Community Organizers Volunteer at Community Kitchen In a Colombo suburb, activists who demonstrated in 2022 are now operating 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 erupted and led to political change. Now, that civic energy is being directed toward disaster response. "People came after work, some rotated shifts and some even took leave to be there," a social media activist explains. "We mobilized our network as soon as we heard what was happening last Thursday," he says. At a local kitchen in Wijerama, volunteers cook food for flood-affected residents. The organizer also considers 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 distribution of food. "Whatever we asked for, we got an overwhelming amount in response from the community," he says. Digital Initiatives for Support A wave of coordination is also happening online, where netizens have created a shared list to channel resources and helpers. Another community-run website helps supporters find relief camps 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 essential items like soap and toothbrushes. Amid criticism over the management of preparations, the president has urged citizens to "put aside all divisions" and "come together to rebuild the nation". Critics have accused authorities of ignoring forecasts, which they say exacerbated the disaster's effects. Recently, opposition lawmakers protested in parliament, claiming that the ruling party was trying to limit debate on the disaster. On the ground, however, there remains a feeling of unity as people pick up the pieces after the floods. "In the end, the joy of helping someone else in a crisis makes that tiredness fade," one volunteer wrote after working long hours at relief sites. "Crises are not new to us. But, the empathy and capacity of our hearts is greater than the damage that occurs during a disaster."