Uplift Responds to Sri Lanka’s Call for Help

In the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwa (one of the most destructive weather events to hit Sri Lanka in recent years) communities across the island are still reeling from catastrophic flooding, mass displacement, and the loss of homes and livelihoods. In response to the Sri Lankan government’s call for urgent humanitarian aid, Uplift, GiveBACk.my, BAC Education and the Malaysian Ceylonese Congress, mobilised an emergency community service fundraiser (supported by the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Malaysia) to provide critical aid on the ground.

This week, those contributions reached one of the hardest-hit areas: Tudalle, a coastal community still struggling to recover after entire neighbourhoods were inundated.

Using funds raised through its ongoing regional disaster response initiative, Uplift channelled support to the Sathya Sai International Organisation of Sri Lanka - one of the grassroots humanitarian organisations actively working inside affected communities. Through this partnership, 1,000 bed sheets were procured and delivered to The Mother of Refuge St Mary’s Church in Tudalle (north of Colombo), which has become a critical lifeline for families displaced by the floods.

The church, working closely with the Grama Niladhari (village administrative officer) and the Development Officer for Tudalle, is now providing shelter and services to an estimated 2,000 people across two churches, while a third nearby church is accommodating another 400 individuals.

Beyond those staying in temporary shelters, an additional 1,200 residents (whose homes are still damaged, water-logged, or unsafe) arrive daily for food and basic support.

The delivery of bedding, though seemingly simple, addresses one of the most urgent and overlooked needs in a crisis: dignity, warmth, and a clean space to rest.

Our volunteers on ground describe a landscape transformed: roads collapsed, homes submerged, belongings swept away, and power cut off for days. Many families evacuated with only the clothes on their backs. The churches, which quickly opened their doors as floodwaters rose, have been functioning as makeshift relief centres ever since - coordinating meals, clothing, and temporary accommodation.

For Uplift, this action in Sri Lanka reflects a long-standing commitment to regional humanitarian action. Uplift, BAC Education and GiveBACk.my (which coordinated large-scale food aid missions during the COVID-19 pandemic and previously supported flood victims in Malaysia, Nepal, and Sri Lanka) focuses on rapid, targeted, community-driven relief.

“Our role is to respond where the need is greatest,” said Mr Raja Singham, founder of Uplift. “When Sri Lanka issued a call for aid after Cyclone Ditwa, we acted immediately. These communities are hurting, and our shared humanity demands that we show up.”

The partnership with the Sathya Sai International Organisation of Sri Lanka also ensured that assistance was delivered directly to trusted frontline responders, bypassing delays and reaching families who needed help the most.