In brief
Cyclone Ditwah has wreaked havoc in Sri Lanka, leading to over 400 fatalities and significant destruction, yet the disaster has sparked a wave of community volunteerism. Notable figures like actor GK Reginold are aiding efforts to provide food and essentials, while various activist groups mobilize to support recovery initiatives. Online platforms are also facilitating donations and organizing aid, showcasing a strong communal response despite political challenges.
Sri Lankan actor and musician GK Reginold rides a motorised fishing boat through Colombo's suburbs, hoping to bring food and water to those in desperate need.
Some of the families, Mr Reginold says, have not received aid for days, isolated by the South Asian island nation's worst weather disaster in recent years.
Cyclone Ditwah lashed the country last week, bringing catastrophic floods and landslides that killed more than 400 people, left hundreds missing and destroyed 20,000 homes.
But the deluge has also inspired volunteerism among its people, as they face what their 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, Mr Reginold tells the BBC. And I was so happy that I was able to do that.
More than one million people have been affected by the disaster, and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has declared a state of emergency.
Sri Lanka's military has deployed helicopters for rescue operations, while humanitarian aid is flowing in from foreign governments and non-governmental organisations.
In Colombo's Wijerama neighbourhood, activists who protested against former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2022 are now helping run a community kitchen that churns out food aid. Sasindu Sahan Tharaka, a social media activist, expresses the importance of this initiative, stating that they reactivated the group as soon as we heard what was happening last Thursday.
Additionally, online campaigns have emerged urging donations and directing volunteers to areas in need, as local businesses and media join efforts to support relief operations.
Facing criticism over his handling of the cyclone's approach, President Dissanayake has called for national unity to tackle the disaster’s aftermath as Sri Lankans come together to rebuild.
