Educate Lanka Foundation Seeks to Raise Funds

The country of Sri Lanka has undergone many changes over the past decade, including a tsunami in 2004 and a thirty-year Civil War that ended last May. The Educate Lanka Foundation (ELF) is hoping to raise money to help students whose lives have been affected by these events.

ELF is a 501 C 3 charity based in the Greater Washington Area. According to Chamari De Silva, the organization "gives scholarships to underprivileged, yet deserving students in Sri Lanka, my home country."

"As time goes on, many people are quick to forget that there are people still struggling and trying to make ends meet," said De Silva.

ELF is made up of about 50 volunteers who spend their nights and weekends dedicating their efforts to the cause, which De Silva said is "near and dear to our hearts."

"Chase Bank is donating $1 million to the charity that gets the most votes on Facebook by this Friday, January 22, at midnight. If we can get in the top 5, then we can get $100,000," said De Silva. "Currently we are number 27 and have a long way to go but we are determined and optimistic!"

WRGW News hosted an interview with ELF on Thursday night's News at Six.

For more information, visit EducateLanka.org.