THE CONSTITUTION OF "LITTLE SMILE ASSOCIATION"

To ensure our ability to work effectively and independently in Sri Lanka, registration as a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) was applied for in 1998.

On 17 February 2002, the Little Smile Association was recognized as a non-profit NGO by the Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

The constitution forms the basis of our activities.

The members of the "Little Smile Association" in General Meeting assembled do hereby resolve and adopt this constitution as the "Constitution of the Little Smile Association" with effect from 15th of November 1998.

The Provisions of the constitution as amended from time to time shall constitute a mutual covenant among the members of the Little Smile Association, hereinafter referred to as the "Association".

1. Name

The name of this Social Organisation shall be "Little Smile Association" and sha 2000 ll be hereinafter called and referred to as the "Association".

2. Head Office

The Head Office of the Association shall be established at Little Smile Village, Lower Ampitithanna Estate Koslanda.

3. Objects and Motives

The motive of the establishment of this social organisation is to work for the welfare and well being of the children and women with children who become orphans, helpless and deserted in the world due to various reasons.

Therefore this Association, as a social welfare organisation in Sri Lanka shall adopt various programmes and projects in Sri Lanka as well as over-seas, and execute and give effect to such programmes and projects.

Organisation and execution of various projects for the welfare of the orphans and deserted and helpless children and woman who are victimised due to various reasons in the world.
Establishment and execution of various programmes and projects for the welfare and well being of the children who have become orphans in Sri Lanka.
Operation of various programmes and projects for the welfare and well-being of the women having children and who have been deserted in Sri Lanka due to various reasons.
Assisting and giving support to social welfare organisations already operating in Sri Lanka.
Establishment and maintenance of orphanages and Childrens' homes, and also homes for the deserted and helpless woman with children in Sri Lanka.
Establishment and operation of institutions and operations owned by LSA and from which all profits are used solely for financing the projects and goals mentioned here under points a) through e).
For the orphans and deserted woman, the operation of following programmes:

Making avenues to receive English education.
Providing computer training.
Providing vocational training.
Operating a guardianship programme for the orphans.
Collaboration with other social organizations worldwide and with the government of Sri Lanka.
Involvement and intervention in affairs which promote the success of the above-mentioned activities.

4. Membership

Every person who participates the first general meeting of this Association shall become a member. And thereafter any Sri Lankan or foreigner authorised by the Executive Committee of the Association can become a member of this Association. No fee shall be levied from any of the members. Association shall maintain a list of names of the members.

5. Responsibilities and duties of Members

Every member shall be a voluntary worker who works to fulfil the motives and objects of this Association; and he/she shall work in conformity with the regulations of the constitution and shall preserve same.

6. Management and Office bearers

An Executive Committee of seven (7) members including the President, Secretary and the Treasurer shall conduct management and administration works of the Association. All powers of the office bearers and Executive Committee of the Association and their activities have to be executed as set out below.

President

He or she shall be a General President for life and elected by the General Meeting. Such appointment shall not be deemed to have vacated, except for the following reasons:

His/her death
His/her prolonged illness
Resignation given in writing and the acceptance of such resignation by the Executive Committee
Found guilty of having involved in corruption or breach of trust of the Association.
Becoming guilty of a punishable offence against general laws maintained by the Government of Sri Lanka or any other Country.
Breaking the regulations of the Constitution or working against the general objectives and motives of the Association.

In the event of such a vacancy in the Presidency, the Executive Committee shall appoint a temporary President, and such appointee shall be a member of the Executive Committee until the General Meeting selects a new President.

The service period of such a generally appointed President is limited to a period of two (2) years.

The rules stated here shall apply also to a President appointed for a limited term.

The President shall be the Chef Executive Officer of the Association, who gets authority with the approval of the Executive Committee.

In the event of vacancy or removal from office, the same conditions will apply as in the case of the President.

Secretary

The Secretary of the Association shall be selected out of the Executive Committee, and such appointed Secretary's service is limited to a period of two (2) years.

The Secretary shall execute powers vested in him by the Executive Committee.

Treasurer

A member of the Executive shall be selected for the post of Treasurer at a General Meeting of the Association.

His/her period of service shall be two (2) years.

In the event of vacancy or removal from office, the same conditions will apply as in the case of the President, especially in matters regarding the entrusted administration of the association's finances.

Executive Committee

Executive Committee shall consist of seven (7) members inclusive of the President, Secretary and the Treasurer, who have been selected at a General Meeting of the Association.

Other members of the Association can be appointed for various posts vesting upon them various powers so that they may assist Office bearers holding main posts, in Meeting of the Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee shall be the Board of Management of the Association, and the said Board of Management shall have the full powers and authority to take any decision to giving effect to the implementation of objects and motives in terms of the Constitution.

The Executive Committee shall have the full authority and powers regarding the enrolment of Members to the Association, after the first meeting of the Association.

The above-stated rules for exclusion shall apply also to the members of the Executive Committee. In the event of a vacancy in the post of Executive Member, the remaining members of the Executive Committee shall have the authority to select a suitable person to fill such vacancy.

The period of office of an Executive Committee member shall be two (2) years.

Meetings

An annual General Meeting of the Association shall be held, in each and every year, after the first General Meeting. And in such a General Meeting of the Association, a board of Committee members could be appointed, if necessary, as specified above. In the event of the service period of office hearers not being terminated, their period of service can be extended for the next year.

The Executive Committee or upon a written request of 2/3 majority of other members of the Association, a Special General Meeting may be held at any time regarding a special reason.

Within a period of one (1) month after the receipt of the request for calling of a Special General Meeting either by the Executive Committee of the other members, the Secretary shall call for such a meeting, and such notice to be given to the members fourteen (14) days before the date of meeting.

The minumum number of attendees required for a General Meeting is 2/3 of the members of the Association.

No decision shall be taken unless it is passed by a 2/3 majority in a General Meeting or by a 2/3 majority at a Special General Meeting.

7. Meetings of the Ex 2000 ecutive Committee

The Executive Committee shall meet once every two (2)months.
The required attendance for an Executive Committee Meeting shall be at least five (5) Committee Members, including of the President, Secretary and Treasurer.
Decisions taken at Executive Committee meetings shall pertain to all matters concerning the Association, and such decisions shall be the final.
The Secretary of the Association may at any time call for the Executive Committee Meeting or else he shall call for a Special Executive Committee Meeting on a request in writing made by five (5) members of the Executive Committee.
Decisions taken by the Executive Committee shall be passed with a majority.
Every Executive Committee Meeting shall be called giving notice one (1) week before such a meeting.
Every meeting shall be presided by the President of the Association, in his absence, an Executive Comity Member, nominated by the President, shall preside the meeting.
At each meeting, the vote of the president will decide in the case of an equal split of votes, but the president can negotiate with members.
The Secretary shall give proper notice to the members of the Association regarding every meeting and call for such a meeting.

8. Funds of the Association and Their Management

There shall be a Fund of the Association. This Fund shall comprise of aid granted by locals and foreigners, grants from the Government of Sri Lanka, and income derived from the properties belonging to the Association and various other sources of income.
Funds of the Association shall be deposited in a Bank Account managed by the Executive Committee, and at a bank determined by the Executive Committee.
All disbursements by the Association shall have to be approved by the Executive Committee and made from the Funds available in the Association.
All the aids, grants and other income derived by the Association shall be accepted only in the name of the Association and such grants shall be deposited in the Bank to the credit of the Association.
The President, Secretary and the Treasurer shall represent the Association with regard to any dealings and cash transactions relating to the matters of the Association, and such cheques issued have to be signed by the Treasurer and Secretary jointly, or by the President of the Association.
The Treasurer shall account and be in charge of all monies of the Association and shall maintain proper books of accounts, and submit a monthly report of the financial position of the Association to the Executive Committee and also a report to the General Meeting of the Association.
A recognised Auditor shall audit accounts reports of the Association.
The fiscal year of the Association begins with the 1st day of April each and every year.
All payments made by the Association for more than RS 25,000.00 shall only be by way of Cheque.
The treasurer maintains a till for routine disbursements.

9. Special Rules

If necessary, the Association shall be at liberty to establish and maintain Branches or sub-organisations.

All such branches and organisations shall be established as such, shall be bound by the regulations of the Association, and their activities shall be limited only to the affairs approved or entrusted by this Association.
Every Children's' Home, woman care Home and any other organisation that will be established for the purpose of achieving the successful objects of the Association, shall be maintained by the respectively appointed Board of Administration for such institutions, and such Boards of Administrations shall be appointed by the Executive Committee, for each institution.
And such appointed Board of Administration to any such Childrens' Home, woman' care Home or any other Branch or Organisation of the Association, shall consist of seven (7) members, comprising of the President and any two (2) other Executive Committee Members of the Association.
This Association may from time to time make amendments or additions to the Constitution, or enact inter and sub-regulations or any other regulations, and all the administration boards of the Branches and other affiliated organisations of this Association, and all the members shall be bound by such terms, rules and regulations enacted by the Association.
In the event of negotiations on behalf of the Association, purchase or sale of assets on behalf of the Association, the President and the Secretary or the Treasurer and one other Executive Committee Member of this Association shall sign for and on behalf of the Association.
No member of the Association shall receive or accept any grant / sum in respect of any service so rendered voluntarily to the Association. Provided however, these rules shall not apply to any officer professionally employed for services.
The Association shall have sole powers to execute legal proceedings. In such instances, an Executive Member authorised by the Executive Comity shall represent the Association.
The Association shall use a Common Seal as decided by the Executive Committee and such Common Seal is to be affixed to business correspondence.
An amendment to the constitution can be made only with unanimous approval of the Executive Committee and must be decided at a meeting of such committee. Such changes require confirmation by a 2/3 majority at a General Meeting of the Association.
Any programme may be exercised in Sri Lanka as well as abroad for the development of the funds of the Association, but all such programmes shall have to be approved by the Executive Committee of this Association.
In the event of any problems with regard to the constitution or financial condition of the Association, the Executive Committee will decide and its decision will final.

10. Dissolution

In the event of a dissolution being passed by the Executive Committee to the effect that the Association be dissolved, such a decision has to be passed by a 2/3 majority of the members at a General Meeting of the Association, then this Association can be dissolved.

In such case, all the assets of the Association, bank accounts and all monies lying to the credit of Association can be assigned or granted to any other social organisation as decided by Executive Committee, but such assignment shall be subject to the strict supervision of authorised representatives of the Missionszentrale der Franziskaner (Mission Headquarters of the Franciscans) in Bonn, Germany. Otherwise, the Missionszentrale der Franziskaner in Bonn will assume temporary control of all assets and properties of the Association until a suitable recipient charitable organization is found in Sri Lanka.