🔗 Share this article Cyclone Disaster in Sri Lanka Ignites a Spirit of Volunteerism Watch: Sri Lankan communities submerged after catastrophic flooding. Sri Lankan actor and musician GK Reginold rides in a motorised fishing boat through flooded neighborhoods, hoping to deliver essential supplies to those in urgent circumstances. Some of the families, Mr Reginold says, have gone without help for days, isolated by the South Asian island nation's most severe weather disaster in memory. Cyclone Ditwah lashed 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 volunteerism, as people 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 so happy that I was able to do that." Local residents have been using fishing boats out to rescue flood victims and distribute supplies. More than one million people have been impacted by the disaster and a national emergency has been announced. The armed forces has sent helicopters for rescue operations, while relief assistance is flowing in from foreign governments and aid groups. But it will be a lengthy process to recovery for the nation, which has seen its fair share of difficulties in recent years. Activists Volunteer at Community Kitchen In Colombo's Wijerama neighbourhood, activists who protested in 2022 are now operating a community kitchen that churns out food aid. The demonstrations from three years ago were fuelled by a severe economic downturn that caused shortages of fuel, food and medicine. Public anger exploded and led to a leadership shift. Now, that civic energy is being directed toward cyclone relief. "Some volunteers came after work, some took turns and some even used vacation time to be there," a social media activist states. "We reactivated the group as soon as we heard what was happening last Thursday," he says. At a community kitchen in Wijerama, helpers cook food for flood-affected residents. The organizer also views the kitchen as an "continuation" of his community service in 2016, when heavy rains and floods killed hundreds across the country. Volunteers have gathered 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. Digital Initiatives for Support A wave of coordination is also happening on the internet, where social media users have created a public database to direct donations and helpers. Another community-run website helps supporters find shelters and identify what is in highest demand in those areas. Private companies have launched donation drives, while media outlets have initiated an effort to provide food and basic necessities like soap and toothbrushes. Facing criticism over the management of preparations, the president has urged citizens to "put aside all political differences" and "unite to rebuild the nation". Opposition politicians have claimed authorities of disregarding forecasts, which they say worsened the disaster's effects. Recently, opposition lawmakers protested in parliament, arguing that the government was trying to limit debate on the disaster. In affected communities, however, there remains a sense of unity as people begin the cleanup after the floods. "Ultimately, the joy of helping someone else to save lives makes that exhaustion fade," the organizer wrote after putting in long hours at relief sites. "Crises are not new to us. But, the compassion and capacity of our hearts is larger than the damage that occurs during a disaster."