A: No. It is an Association registered under Sri Lankan Law in June 2004. Its Articles and Memorandum state clearly that its activities are entirely charitable and not-for-profit, so in practical terms it functions exactly as a charity. We are not currently a registered UK charity.
Q: How transparent are your activities?
A: We have a variety of systems in place to ensure good corporate governance:
We are governed by Sri Lankan company law and are thus required to file independently audited accounts as well as other information with the Sri Lankan authorities.
All our decisions are taken by vote at meetings of the Board of Directors.
Apart from this website, we publish regular newsletters on our activities and communicate regularly with donors and interested bodies/individuals around the world.
We will produce an annual report.
Q: Can I get GIFT AID on top of my donation (UK donors only)?
A: Yes. A UK-registered charity that is active in Sri Lanka, The Web of Hope has launched an appeal to help raise funds for us and two other ngo's carrying about relief work in Sri Lanka. To benefit from Gift Aid, log onto their web site at www.thewebofhope.com, and follow the online instructions. Select that your donation goes to 'Friends of the South' from the drop-down menu.
Q: Can I give to a specific project?
A: Yes. Donors can either make a general donation to us (most common method) or specify what they would like the money to be spent on (eg. Childrens’ education). In addition, we will be highlighting ‘Projects seeking Donors’ on our homepage, so keep an eye out for the latest projects we are trying to assist.
Q: Can I volunteer?
A: We do not use volunteers, preferring to carry out our work through local bodies and contacts. Where necessary we will employ local labour, which has the advantages of helping local employment and also reducing the appearance of and dependency on foreign aid.
