Local performer 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, he explains, have gone without help for days, cut off by the country's most severe weather disaster in recent years.
Cyclone Ditwah struck the country last week, bringing catastrophic floods and landslides that killed more than 400 people, left hundreds missing and leveled 20,000 homes.
But the flooding has also sparked a surge in volunteerism, as citizens face what national leaders 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," Mr Reginold states. "And I was so happy that I was able to do that."
More than one million people have been affected by the disaster and a national emergency has been declared.
The military has deployed helicopters for search and rescue, while relief assistance is arriving from international partners and aid groups.
But it will be a long journey to rebuild for Sri Lanka, which has seen its fair share of turmoil in recent years.
Community Organizers Volunteer at Local Food Hub
In Colombo's Wijerama neighbourhood, individuals who protested in 2022 are now helping run a community kitchen that churns out meals.
The protests from three years ago were driven by a spiralling economic crisis that caused shortages of fuel, food and medicine. Widespread frustration exploded and led to a leadership shift. Now, that civic energy is being channelled toward cyclone relief.
"Some volunteers 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.
The organizer also views 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 requests for help, shared them to authorities, and organized the distribution of food.
"Every request we made, we got an overwhelming amount in response from the community," he notes.
Digital Initiatives for Aid
A wave of coordination is also happening on the internet, where social media users have created a public database to direct donations and volunteers.
Another volunteer-backed website helps donors find relief camps and see what is most needed in those areas.
Private companies have organized fundraising efforts, while local television channels have initiated an campaign to provide food and essential items like soap and toothbrushes.
Facing criticism over the handling of preparations, the president has urged citizens to "set aside all political differences" and "come together to restore the nation".
Opposition politicians have accused authorities of disregarding forecasts, which they say worsened the disaster's impact.
Recently, opposition lawmakers protested in parliament, arguing that the ruling party was trying to limit debate on the disaster.
On the ground, however, there remains a sense of unity as people begin the cleanup after the floods.
"Ultimately, the satisfaction of helping someone else in a crisis makes that exhaustion fade," one volunteer 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 damage that occurs during a disaster."
