Sri Lanka Rallies Together in Volunteer Efforts Following Cyclone Disaster

Sat Dec 20 2025 18:19:11 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As Sri Lanka copes with the devastating impact of Cyclone Ditwah, the spirit of volunteerism shines through as citizens unite to deliver aid and support to those affected by the catastrophic flooding and landslides.

Cyclone Ditwah has caused unprecedented destruction in Sri Lanka, claiming over 400 lives, rendering thousands homeless, and affecting more than a million people. However, amidst this tragedy, communities are banding together, with volunteers providing food and aid to those in need. Activists have repurposed their political energy into humanitarian efforts, and initiatives are emerging both offline and online to coordinate donations and support.

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, prompting President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to declare 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. Activists in Colombo's Wijerama neighborhood are also aiding relief efforts, running a community kitchen that produces food for flood victims.

Some volunteers came after work, some took turns and some even took leave to be there, said Sasindu Sahan Tharaka, a social media activist. The group reactivated to help as soon as they heard about the cyclone's impact.

This community effort has extended online, with social media users creating databases to direct donations, while local companies and TV channels organize donation drives. Despite political tensions concerning the disaster response, many Sri Lankans continue to unite in their relief efforts, showcasing the resilience and empathy of the nation.

In the end, the joy of helping someone else to save lives makes that tiredness fade, wrote Mr. Sahan in a Facebook post after a long day of volunteering. Disasters are not new to us. But the empathy and capacity of our hearts is greater than the destruction that occurs during a disaster.