Sri Lanka Scout Association

Sri Lanka Scout Association
Headquarters	Colombo
Country	Sri Lanka
Founded	1912
Membership	45000
Chief Scout	Maithripala Sirisena
Chief Commissioner	Archt. Prof. T.K. Nimal De Silva
Affiliation	World Organization of the Scout Movement
Website www.scout.lk

The Sri Lanka Scout Association (Sinhala: ශ්‍රී ලංකා බාලදක්ෂ සංගමය; Tamil: இலங்கைச் சாரணர்க் கழகம்), the national Scouting organization of Sri Lanka, was founded in 1912, and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1953. The Ceylon Scout Council was incorporated by the Act No 13 of 1957.^[1] The coeducational Sri Lanka Scout Association has 33,709 members as of 2014.^[2]

There are various community development projects carried out in cooperation with the government organizations, United Nations and other service organizations.

Scouting has been introduced into the prisons. It has spread to other institutions such as certified schools. There are also Scout units for handicapped boys such as the blind and deaf and for boys in leprosy hospitals.

History

• 1912 - The Boy Scouts of Ceylon (late Sri Lanka Scout Association) established the first scout troop, by District Civil Engineer, F.G. Stevens(1st Chief Commissioner of Ceylon)at Christ Church College - Matale.
• 1913 - Inception of the 1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scout Group,at Dharmaraja College
• 14 June 1914 the first Colombo – Governor's Own scout troop, which is the first open scout troop and the third scout troop of Sri Lanka.
• 1914 - Scouting brought by F.G. Stevens,1st Galle Mahinda Scout Group,at Mahinda College, Galle District.
• 1914 - Scouting was introduced to Trinity College Kandy by J.N.Thomas,
• 1916 - Inception of the 10th Colombo Ananda College Scout Troop at Ananda College, Colombo 10
• 1916 - Western Province Rally at Havelock Park, Colombo.
• 1917 - Scouting was introduced to Wesley College, Colombo by Rev.P.T Cash,
• 1917 - King's Flag (awarded by His Majesty the King George V) was won by 1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scouts for the first time in Ceylon scouting history.
• 1917 - First all Ceylon Rally at Havelock Race Course, Colombo.
• 1917 - A. B. Rambukwella of the 1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scout Group, won the King's Scout Badge as the first Ceylonese King Scout.
• 1918 - King's Flag (awarded by His Majesty the King George V) was won by 1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scouts for the second time in Ceylon scouting history.
• 1919 - King's Flag (awarded by His Majesty the King George V) was won by 1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scouts for the third time in Ceylon scouting history.
• 1921 - 1921 - B.P.'s visit to Sri Lanka with Lady Olave Baden-Powell; Scouting started in Prisons.
• 1925 - Vernon Grenier becomes Chief Commissioner.
• 1930 - Scout HQ moves to an old guardroom at Galle Face, Colombo.
• 1930 - J.H. De Saram become the first native Chief Commissioner.^[3][4]
• 1932 - All Ceylon Scout Craft exhibition at Katugastota, Kandy.
• 1934 - Lord and Lady Baden-Powell visit Sri Lanka ^[5]
• 1942 - K. Somasundaram becomes Chief Commissioner.
• 1948 - Col. C.P. Jayawardene becomes the Chief Commissioner. New Buildings of National Headquarters. Pedru Camp-site at Nuwera-Eliya. Job Week scheme started. Sinhala and Tamil edition of Scouting for Boys published.
• 1952 - Ceylon Jamboree at Koombi Kele, Colombo. (near the present BMICH, Colombo.)
• 1954 - E.W. Kannangara becomes Chief Commissioner.
• 1957 - Participation in Jubilee Jamboree in England; Scout Council Act of Incorporation passed in Parliament^[1]
• 1962 - Golden Jubilee Jamboree at Race Course, Colombo.
• 1967 - Fitzroy H. Gunesekera becomes Chief Commissioner.
• 1972 - C.M.P. Wanigatunga becomes Chief Commissioner.
• 1977 - H. Ratnasuriya becomes Chief Commissioner. National HQ shifted to Chitthampalan Gardiner Mawatha, Colombo 02.
• 1978 - Old Rajans Scouts Association (ORSA), the first South Asian old scout association formed by the old scouts of 1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scout Group, Dharmaraja College, Kandy.
• 1982 - Theodore Seneviratne becomes Chief Commissioner. Special Commemorative Stamp in honour of B.P. on 125th Birth Anniversary.
• 1983 - 3rd National Jamboree at Walisinghe Harischandra Ground Anuradhapura.
• 1984 - 2nd National Cubboree.
• 1987 - Rex Jayasinghe becomes Chief Commissioner.
• 1990 - 1st SAARC Jamboree at Vihara Maha Devi Park, Colombo. Chief Commissioner Rex Jayasinghe dies just before Jamboree. J. Lionel Silva becomes Chief Commissioner.
• 1992 - 4th National Jamboree in Kurunegala. M. Mazzahim Mohideen becomes Chief Commissioner.
• 1997 - K.H. Camillus Fernando becomes Chief Commissioner.
• 1998 - 5th National Jamboree, Pallekelle, Kandy.
• 1998 - First Asia- Pacific Workshop on Information Technology - Colombo, First Web page hosted by University of Morotuwa.
• 2002 - H.S.Weerakoon becomes Chief Commissioner. 6th National Scout Jamboree, Balapitiya.
• 2006 - 7th National Scout Jamboree, Nuwara Eliya.
• 2007 - C.Batuwangala becomes Chief Commissioner.
• 2009 - First female Cub Scouts invested on 23 January ^[6]
• 2009 - Chathura Deshapriya Mataraarachchi of 1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scout Group was awarded the Outstanding Asia-Pacific Scout Award.
• 2009 - The innitiation of Sri Lanka Old Scouts and Old Guides Association and the Kandy District President Scouts and President Guides Association was done
• 2010 - 8th National Scout Jamboree, Angunakolapelessa.^[7][8]
• 2011 - Sri Lankan First Equestrian Scouts are invested, Premadasa Riding School collaboration with SLEA at Nugegoda. Sri Lanka is the first country to introduce Equestrian Scouting to the Scouting agenda in the Asia Pacific Region.^[9]
• 2012 The Sri Lanka Scout Association celebrated 100 years of Scouting in Sri Lanka. For this they organized a centenary Scout walk, issued a new stamp and a Rs.2/= coin and were host of the Asia-Pacific Scout Jamboree at Gam Udawa & Kandalama sites Dambulla, Matale District in the Central Province of Sri Lanka from 31 March to 7 April 2012 with approximately 8,000 Scouts including overseas participants from 23 countries.
• 2012 - 29th APR and Sri Lanka Centenary Scout Jamboree,Dambulla.^[10]
• 2012 - Sidath Chandima Gajanayaka was awarded the Outstanding Asia-Pacific Scout Award.^[11]
• 2012 - Prof. Nimal De Silva becomes Chief Commissioner on 19 April 2012.^[12]
• 2013 - 1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scout Group together with Old Rajans Scouts Association held the Rajans International Scout Gathering of Centennial 2013 (RISGO 2013) at Lake View Park International Scout Centre to celebrate centennial year of the group with scouts representing all scouting regions of the world from 30 countries.^[13]
• 2013 - 10th National Cubboree, St.Anthony's College, Wattala. Sri Lanka.
• 2013 - 17th Kandy Trinity College Scout Group organized and held "Around Sri Lanka in 12 Days" Bicycle Ride as a prelude of their centenary to be celebrated in 2014 as the Scouts rode around the Coastal belt of the country covering more than 1600 km. They also raised funds for the New Cancer Hospital to be built in Kandy as well as created awareness on cancer throughout their ride.
• 2014 - 8th Asia-Pacific Scout Leaders Summit 2014 at Goldi Sands Hotel Ethukala, Negombo.
• 2014 - 1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scout Group established a Guinness World Records by creating the World Largest neckerchief and woggle.^[14][15]
• 2014 - Colombo Centenary International Scout Jamboree(CCISJ 2014) 1 to 7 August 2014 at Ygro Campsite, Madampe.
• 2014 - October 7, opening a new chapter in Sri Lankan Scouting for (age 5 ½ to 7) සිඟිති බාලදක්ෂ 'Kids Scouting'.
• 20 May 2015 - Sri Lanka's President Maithreepala Sirisena took Oaths as Chief Scout of Sri Lanka and Patron of the Guild

All Ceylon Rally

1. 1st All Ceylon Rally, Havelock Race Course,Colombo,1917
2. 2nd All Ceylon Rally, Barracks,Kandy,1918
3. 3rd All Ceylon Rally, Kandy,1919
4. 4th All Ceylon Rally, Havelock Race Course,Colombo,1921 (Lord & Lady BP Arrivals)
5. 5th All Ceylon Rally, Kandy,1922 (Eastern tour of the Prince of Wales 23 March 1922)
6. 6th All Ceylon Rally, Colombo,1924 (Farewell Ceremony of The British Governor William Manning)

National Scout Jamboree

National Jamboree is organizing by National HQ .^[16]

1. 1st National Scout Jamboree, Bullers Road,Colombo, 1952
2. 2nd National Scout Jamboree, Havelock Race Course, Colombo,1962
3. 3rd National Scout Jamboree, Harischandra Ground, Anuradhapura - 26 February to 4 March 1983
4. 4th National Scout Jamboree, Welagedara Ground, Kurunegala,1992
5. 5th National Scout Jamboree, Kandy, 1998 ^[17]
6. 6th National Scout Jamboree, Balapitiya,2002
7. 7th National Scout Jamboree, Nuwara Eliya,2006
8. 8th National Scout Jamboree, Angunakolapelessa,2010
9. 9th National Scout Jamboree, Pending Jaffna,20 to 26 February 2016
10. 10th National Scout Jamboree Pending 2020 colombo

Notable Scouters

Gerald Fernando served as the International Boy Scout Commissioner for the Far East in the 1950s until his death in 1961.

Senator E.W. Kannangara served on the World Scout Committee of the World Organization of the Scout Movement from 1960 until 1961.

In 1973, Kingsley C. Dassanayake was awarded the Bronze Wolf, the only distinction of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, awarded by the World Scout Committee for exceptional services to world Scouting.

Program Section

Programme Commissioner of Sri Lanka Scout Association is Mr. Rohan Wirasekara (2013 - 2017)

Sections of SlSA

Age range Scouting section

5 Years 6 Months to 7 Years - Singithi Scouts

7 Years to 10 Years 6 Months - Cubs Scouts

10 Years to 14 Years and 6 Months - Junior Scout

14 Years 6 Months to 18 Years - Senior Scouts

17 Years to 24 Years - Rover Scout

Rover Scouts

Youth between the Age 17 and 24 years are eligible to be trained as Rover Scouts.

A Rover Scout working for the B.P. Award must maintain a Record Book (not his personal Log Book) from the date he was invested as a Rover Scout for a minimum of 2 years.

In the first half of the book he will record every Crew Meeting he attended and every C-I-C he was present at. He will give the date of the meetings, their duration, and the important events of the programme. He should have attended a minimum of 24 Crew Meetings and 6 C-I-C meetings, to be eligible for the B.P. Award.

Special Sections

Air Scouting and Sea Scouting are different ways of delivering the programme, and are not separate organizations. They are based on the same fundamental Scouting Aims & Methods. Sea and Air Scouts follow the core balanced programme for their section but usually add a nautical or aeronautical twist to the programme and activities.

Equestrian Scouts

Sea Scouting

Sea Scouts in Sri Lanka was originally established in 1932. Sri Lanka Scout Association is about to officially relaunch the Sea Scouts. The Sri Lanka Navy would be providing all the technical facilities and some of the training. Captain Suresh De Silva a former President’s Scout, who is now the Headquarters Commissioner for Sea Scouts is in charge of the operations. There was already a two-day orientation course for prospective Leaders and a one-day practical course for the Scouts.

Air Scouting

The Air Scouts Group in Sri Lanka is the SLAF Air Scouts Group. This Group was started in 1972 with Wg Cdr PTD De Silva as the first Group Scout Leader, at SLAF premises Guwanpura, Borella. This was extended to SLAF Base Katunayake in 1978 when Air Commodore DB Siriwardana was the Base Commander at SLAF Base Katunayake.

Equestrian Scouting

The Sri Lanka Scout Association is the first organization to introduce Equestrian Scouting to the Scouting agenda in the Asia Pacific Region. Even though the equestrian proficiency badge has been included among the five essential badges, a scout must obtain to be subjected for the Scouts Awards, the activity has been set aside for the past few decades due to lack of facilities in the country.^[18]

Scout Training Camps

Pedro Scout Training Camp near Nuwara Eliya (6°57′48.68″N 80°48′23.49″E / 6.9635222°N 80.8065250°E / 6.9635222; 80.8065250) is known for its tropical forests and hills.

Lee Dasanayaka Scout Activity Center near Mirigama (7°17′21.69″N 80°8′35″E / 7.2893583°N 80.14306°E / 7.2893583; 80.14306) is set in 12 acres of forest in the Gampaha District. The site offers camping facilities, woodland and campsite activities, hiking tracks and a large rally ground.

Lake View Park International Scout Centre in Kandy (7°15′7″N 80°38′58.83″E / 7.25194°N 80.6496750°E / 7.25194; 80.6496750) is a 57-acre ground belonging to Dharmaraja College. The park is modeled after Gilwell Park in London. It consists of rally grounds, camp sites, campfire circle, the den, kitchen complex, lecture rooms and dormitories. It is the home for the 1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scout Group.

Structure

The Sri Lanka Scout Association is structured in seven Scouting provinces with 37 districts:

• Northern Province
• Central Province
• Eastern Province
• North Western Province
• Western Province
• Uva Province
• Sabaragamuwa Province

See also

• The Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association
• World Buddhist Scout Brotherhood
• Lake View Park International Scout Centre

References

External links

• Sri Lanka Scout Association
• Scouting Magazine, Sri Lanka