Karuna.lk - Connecting Donors to the Needy

(L–R): Thivanka Jayasinghe, Partner, PwC Sri Lanka, Dr Hans Wijayasuriya – Chief Executive Officer, Telecommunications Business/Group Executive Vice President, Axiata Group Berhad, Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne, President, Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, and Supun Weerasinghe – Director/Group Chief Executive, Dialog Axiata PLC launching Karuna.lk, Sri Lanka’s first cause-verified crowdfunding platform.

In an effort to bring together like-minded people who want to take action and help fellow Sri Lankans in-need during these challenging times, Dialog Foundation together with Principal Moderator - Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement and Independent Auditor - PwC Sri Lanka, launched Karuna.lk, Sri Lanka’s first crowdfunding platform with verified and trusted non-profits, organisations and causes.

Against the backdrop of the economic crisis in the country, this timely and relevant initiative aims to empower and enrich Sri Lankan lives through social stewardship backed by a trusted and secure fundraising engine operating at the highest level of governance. Individuals, non-profits and organisations can follow the verification process reviewed by category-specific/specialised moderators and register their cause/charity on Karuna.lk to have access to a completely free and easy-to-use service.

Further, the platform provides donors with full transparency of the movement of funds to the beneficiaries, along with access to a multitude of social causes spanning a wide range of categories, including Healthcare, Community, Education, Emergency, Environment, Sports, Cancer, Animal Welfare, and Volunteering. Karuna.lk is home to a variety of Government approved charities, including the UNDP, Red Cross, SOS Village, Heart To Heart Trust Fund, PRDA, Samastha Lanka Kidney Patient’s Association, Child Action Lanka and more. Donations can be made conveniently to the verified causes/charities of the donor’s choice listed on the platform through a range of payment options, including Debit/Credit Cards (Master & Visa), eZ Cash, Dialog add-to-bill, Star Points, over-the-counter or online bank transfers.

Speaking on the occasion, Supun Weerasinghe, Group Chief Executive of Dialog Axiata PLC stated “It is a great pleasure and privilege for Dialog Foundation to launch Karuna.lk. This platform will provide those willing and able to help with a trusted and reliable method to help those in need by donating a meal, helping a child with their education, protecting Sri Lanka’s natural reserves and much more. As a conscious corporate citizen and the trusted digital companion of over 17 million Sri Lankans, Dialog has continuously dedicated our services to empowering and enriching the lives of Sri Lankans. In the month of October, Dialog Foundation will be celebrating 10 years of service and the launch of Karuna.lk is, I believe, a fitting tribute to this occasion”.

Speaking on this occasion, Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne, President, Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement stated “It’s always a pleasure for the Sarvodaya movement to be associated with Dialog and the Dialog Foundation. Compassion and kindness are groundwork of what Sri Lanka is built on and Karuna.lk will provide causes with a platform to raise their voices and those willing to help with a trusted platform to reach out. The Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement is pleased to serve as principal moderator of the Karuna.lk platform, where we will verify the requests and recipients onboarded to Karuna.lk. With 60 years of experience of serving Sri Lanka, we are confident that we can provide the necessary support to this relevant and timely initiative”.

Thivanka Jayasinghe, Partner, PwC Sri Lanka shared “Sri Lanka is going through a very difficult time and there are many who are struggling to make ends meet. We’ve witnessed first-hand how Dialog has always come to the forefront when communities are in need of help. Dialog Foundation has come forward with the Karuna.lk platform and we hope that this initiative will attract many donors while also helping individuals who are in need. PWC is proud to come onboard as the auditor to verify and validate the channelling of funds to its rightful beneficiaries. We hope that this initiative will encourage the much-needed contributions, which will help our people immensely”

For more information, please visit www.karuna.lk