About AFLAC International

Capt Elmo Jayawardena
Founder/President
AFLAC International

	About AFLAC
	Sri Lanka
	Sri Lanka lies beneath the great mass of India, surrounded by miles of Indian Ocean. It is a country that is embroiled in a civil war that has impacted upon the country in a devastating manner. The great majority of its populace struggles with the daily tedium of living; finding a wholesome meal, having shelter from the elements and coping with illness. What was once a paradise island is now in need of help.
	Establishment of AFLAC
	AFLAC was founded by Capt. Elmo Jayawardena, a Sri Lankan pilot employed with Singapore Airlines. He and an executive committee of five directors run AFLAC. A member of the Executive committee heads each AFLAC project. In addition, AFLAC has chief coordinators for every project. A number of coordinators work under the chief co-ordinator. Every beneficiary of AFLAC has been allocated a co-ordinator who acts as the link between AFLAC and the beneficiary. AFLAC is registered under the Ministry of Social Services in Sri Lanka as a Non Governmental Organisation engaged in charitable work. AFLAC was granted the status “Approved Charity” in Sri Lanka in 2000
	Ideology behind AFLAC
	AFLAC was formed in 1995 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 and status. Founded upon the quote 'It is better by far to light one solitary candle than to curse the darkness' AFLAC believes that everyone has the capacity to light a candle, be it large or small, which will shed some light on someone else's darkness. As such, we function as a link between your act of generosity and someone else's need.
	AFLAC work
	AFLAC attempts to attack poverty through five main areas of work; education, health, shelter, food and clothing. It carries out certain miscellaneous projects through an AFLAC general fund. All projects run independently of each other and different people are involved in varying manners. All prospective projects are screened by the executive committee for their viability, authenticity and suitability under the AFLAC programs. An important aspect of AFLAC is that no part of any donation received is reserved for administration costs. All administrative expenses are borne by the executive committee and participants as part of their own contributions to AFLAC. All donations from individuals are channeled directly to recipients without any form of dilution.
	International representatives
	There are AFLAC International representatives in many countries who function independently, to engender an awareness in people of the needs and difficulties faced by the poor in Sri Lanka. Most times they source sponsors and donors to support AFLAC International programs. They are free to use their own initiatives rather than a standardised process to spread the message of AFLAC International. There are AFLAC International representatives in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Vienna Sweden and Bermuda, London, Eastbourne, Devon and Wales, Toronto, Vancouver and Calgery,Riyadh, Dubai and Qatar. In the Asia-Pacific region, there are AFLAC International representatives inMelbourne, Perth, Sydney, Hong Kong, Wellington and Singapore.