CandleAid Lanka is a Sri Lankan humanitarian organisation that is, at its core, a link between someone's generosity and another person's area of need. CandleAid Lanka (formerly AFLAC International) was founded in 1995 by Capt Elmo Jayawardena, a Sri Lankan pilot then employed with Singapore Airlines. He and an Executive Committee of two Vice-Presidents and five Directors run CandleAid. Other than
CandleAid's office staff of less than fifteen, all its Directors, Branch Representatives and Project Coordinators work on a volunteer basis. Founded upon the adage "It is better by far to light a solitary candle than to curse the darkness", CandleAid was formed with the purpose of alleviating poverty in Sri Lanka. It is modeled on the belief that every person can do something to help another, irrespective of class, wealth or status. We welcome anyone who wishes to lend a hand to underprivileged people in Sri Lanka, be it as a volunteer worker or a donor. CandleAid works across political, ethnic, and religious boundaries in Sri Lanka, to provide help where help is needed, to address a need where there is one. CandleAid attempts to attack poverty through five main areas of work; education, health, shelter, food and community development. All prospective projects are screened by the executive committee for their viability, authenticity and suitability under the CandleAid programs. Each adopted project is headed by a member of the Executive Committee and managed by a Chief Coordinator assisted by a team of mainly volunteer oordinators. Every CandleAid beneficiary is allocated a coordinator who acts as the link between CandleAid and the beneficiary. CandleAid has independent representatives in many countries whose task is to engender awareness in people of the needs and difficulties faced by the poor in Sri Lanka.
