🔗 Share this article Cyclone Disaster in Sri Lanka Awakens a Wave of Volunteerism Watch: Sri Lankan communities submerged after catastrophic flooding. Local performer GK Reginold rides in a motorised fishing boat through Colombo's suburbs, aiming to bring essential supplies to those in urgent circumstances. Many families, Mr Reginold says, have not received aid for days, isolated by the country's worst natural catastrophe in memory. The powerful storm struck the country last week, causing catastrophic floods and landslides that killed more than 400 people, left hundreds unaccounted for and leveled 20,000 homes. But the flooding has also inspired a surge in volunteerism, as citizens face what the president has described as the "gravest natural disaster" in its history. "My primary motivation for getting involved, is to at least ensure they get one meal," Mr Reginold states. "And I was so happy that I was able to do that." Local residents have been taking fishing boats out to rescue flood victims and distribute supplies. More than one million people have been impacted by the disaster and a state of emergency has been announced. The armed forces has deployed helicopters for search and rescue, while relief assistance is flowing in from foreign governments and aid groups. But it will be a lengthy process to rebuild for the nation, which has seen its share of difficulties in recent years. Activists Volunteer at Community Kitchen In Colombo's Wijerama neighbourhood, activists who protested in 2022 are now helping run a community kitchen that produces food aid. The demonstrations from three years ago were fuelled by a spiralling economic crisis that caused shortages of fuel, food and medicine. Widespread frustration erupted and led to political change. Now, that civic energy is being directed toward disaster response. "Some volunteers came after work, some rotated shifts and some even took leave to be there," one organizer explains. "We reactivated the group as soon as we heard what was happening last Thursday," he says. At a local kitchen in Wijerama, volunteers prepare meals for flood-affected residents. The organizer also views the kitchen as an "continuation" of his volunteer work in 2016, when heavy rains and floods affected hundreds across the country. Volunteers 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 notes. Online Initiatives for Support A wave of coordination is also happening on the internet, where social media users have created a shared list to direct donations and volunteers. Another volunteer-backed website helps supporters find shelters and see what is most needed in those areas. Private companies have launched donation drives, while local television channels have initiated an effort to provide food and basic necessities like soap and toothbrushes. Amid criticism over the handling of storm readiness, the president has urged citizens to "set aside all political differences" and "come together to restore the nation". Opposition politicians have claimed authorities of disregarding weather warnings, which they say worsened the disaster's effects. Recently, opposition lawmakers protested in parliament, claiming that the ruling party was trying to restrict debate on the disaster. On the ground, however, there remains a feeling of unity as people pick up the pieces after the floods. "Ultimately, the joy of helping someone else in a crisis makes that exhaustion fade," the organizer wrote after putting in long hours at aid centers. "Disasters are not new to us. But, the compassion and size of our hearts is larger than the destruction that occurs during a disaster."