Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association (SLGGA), the largest female youth movement in Sri Lanka marked 105 years of service to the nation on 21st  March 2022.  

To celebrate the occasion, the association organised the Girl Guides’ Flag Day and the national event took place at the Prime Minister’s office on the 21st of March. The Assistant Chief Commissioner, Commissioner International and Commissioner Communications presented the flag to the Prime Minister.    

A 3 km walk and cycle rally on the theme “breaking the bias” was held on the 20th of March across the nine provinces of the country. The main event took place at Vihara Maha Devi Park. A street drama and a talk was organised to raise awareness on how to create a gender equal world, free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. The guest speaker was Ms. Vraie Cally Balthasaar.

Guiding was introduced to Sri Lanka in 1917 by Miss Jenny Calverley, a young teacher from England who joined the school staff of Girls’ High School Kandy where the first Guide Company was formed. The inaugural Jenny Calverley Green Oration on the relevance of guiding in the 21st century was delivered by Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe, Chair Professor of English and Senior Professor University of Kelaniya. Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe explored the colonial and post-colonial influence on the girl guide movement and the impact of the movement in the 21st century on Sri Lanka. Professor Wickremesinghe was attached to the Museaus College, Guide company -23rd Colombo.  The 105th anniversary celebrations concluded with an interfaith religious programme held at the National Headquarters in Colombo on the 23rd of March 2022.