Sri Lanka Scout Association
| Sri Lanka Scout Association | |
|---|---|
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| Sections | Singithi, Cub, Scout, Rover, Leader |
| Location | Colombo |
| District | Colombo |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Continent | Asia |
| Date Founded | 1912 |
| Website | scout.lk |
The Sri Lanka Scout Association (Sinhala: ශ්රී ලංකා බාලදක්ෂ සංගමය; Tamil: இலங்கைச் சாரணர் சங்கம்) is the national Scouting organization of Sri Lanka. It was founded in 1912 and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1953. The boys only Sri Lanka Scout Association had 24,982 members as of 2004.
History
Scouting was introduced to Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) in 1912. Senator E.W. Kannangara served on the World Scout Committee of the World Organization of the Scout Movement from 1960 until 1961.
In 1973, Mr. Kingsley C. Dassenaike 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.
As Sri Lanka is a multireligious and multiracial country, Scouting has been a great unifying force.
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.
Girl Scouting was officially introduced by the Sri Lanka Scout Association in August 2008, marking a significant shift toward coeducation in the country's Scouting movement. The first investiture ceremony for female Cub Scouts took place on 23rd January 2009 at Seethawaka National School in Avissawella. This event marked the introduction of the "Girls in Scouting" program in the Sri Lanka Scout Association.
Program Sections
The association offers programs for all five Scouting sections:
- Singithi Scouts (ages 5 years 6 months – 7 years)
- Cub Scouts (ages 7 years – 10 years 6 months)
- Junior Scouts (ages 10 years 6 months – 14 years 6 months)
- Senior Scouts (ages 14 years 6 months – 18 years)
- Rover Scouts (ages 17 years 6 months – 24 years)
Special Sections
Air Scouting and Sea Scouting are different ways of delivering the programme, and are not separate organisations. They are based on the same fundamental Scouting Aims & Methods.
Scout Motto
The Scout Motto of the Sri Lanka Scout Association is "Be Prepared" (Sinhala: "සූදානම්ව සිටිනු" Sudhanamva Sitinu; Tamil: "தயாராக இருங்கள்" Thayārāka Irungal).
Scout Training Camps
- Pedro Scout Training Camp near Nuwara Eliya is known for its tropical forests and hills.
- Lee Dassanayake Scout Activity Center near Mirigama 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 is a 57-acre ground belonging to Dharmaraja College. The park is modelled after Gilwell Park in London. It consists of rally grounds, campsites, a campfire circle, the den, a kitchen complex, lecture rooms and dormitories.
National Level Certificates
- "Prasident’s Scout Award"
- "Sampath Ranawake Memorial Challenge Trophy" (Orienteering Hiking competition)
- "J.J.P. Dehigma Memorial Challenge Trophy" (Orienteering Hiking competition)
Scouting Magazine Sri Lanka
Scouting Magazine Sri Lanka (Sinhala: බාලදක්ෂ ශ්රී ලංකා, Tamil: சாரணர்க் இலங்கை) is a publication of the Scouts Media Network of Sri Lanka. The target audience is members of both genders at all age levels. It carries news on Scouting events, articles on aspects of Scouting such as service, outdoor skills and activities, and features about Scouting activities. It has been in publication since 22 February 2012.
See also
External links
Members of the Asia-Pacific Scout Region
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Full members: Australia | Bangladesh | Bhutan | Brunei | Republic of China (Taiwan) | Fiji | Hong Kong | India | Indonesia | Japan | Kiribati | South Korea | Malaysia | Maldives | Mongolia | Nepal | New Zealand | Pakistan | Papua New Guinea | Philippines | Singapore | Sri Lanka | Thailand |
