The Scouting commemoration ceremony was held under the patronage of the Chief Commissioner Janaprith Fernando Attorney-at-Law

The Sri Lanka Scout Association celebrated the 166th Birth Anniversary of the founder of the scouts movement Lord Robert Stevenson Smyth Baden Powell at the birth place of scouting in Sri Lanka, Christ Church College, Matale. Scouting was introduced to Sri Lanka by F.G Stevens in Matale on the instructions and guidance of the Chief Commissioner and the National Headquarters team. The National Celebration was held in Matale at the Children’s Park, Christ Church College, Scout Outdoor Park and the Auditorium of the District Secretariat.

Founder’s Day is celebrated throughout the 172 member nations of the World Organisation of the Scout Movement and the 37 districts in Sri Lanka. The main Celebrations held in Matale had over 2000 Cubs, Scouts and Leaders taking part in activities at the Children’s Park. Thereafter the scouts marched in a procession to Christ Church College where the commemoration ceremony was held under the patronage of the Chief Commissioner Janaprith Fernando Attorney-at-Law. A Rally was held and floral tributes were made by all Commissioners from the National Headquarters to the Founder Lord Baden Powell’s portrait. 

Speaking at the occasion Fernando paid gratitude to both the Founder of Scouting Lord Baden Powell and the Founder of Scouting in Sri Lanka F.G.Stevens and spoke of the importance of scouting and the training the movement offers. The foundation stone was laid by the Chief Commissioner for the erection of a statue of Lord Baden Powell at the Scout Park. The main event was held at the Auditorium of the District Secretariat Auditorium in Matale where 260 Senior Scouts of the first batch of Scouts who won the Prime Minister’s Award were presented with the badges. Apart from that 60 Rover Scouts received their Highest Award for Rover Scouts “the BP Award”. Ten (10) Scout Leaders were awarded with the highest training award, the ‘Woodbadge’. The presentation of the President’s Award parchments and presentation of Certificates to recipients of National Adult Awards also took place. The Guest of Honour Mrs. Thejani Thilakaratne, the District Secretary, thanked the Chief Commissioner and the Sri Lanka Scout Association for the opportunity given to Matale District to host the National Founder’s Day Celebrations in Matale. Thilakaratne emphasised on the need to preserve the rich history of the Scout movement specially in Matale and assured the support for scouting in the District in the future as well. 

Fernando, the Chief Commissioner, stated that he was extremely proud that 400 scouts from all districts of Sri Lanka were present in Matale and congratulated all the winners of awards. He further stated that the SLSA in its Strategic Plan has to achieve a growth in membership and reach a target of 108,000 scouts by end of 2023; the achievement of which he was confident of due to the hard work of the majority of the commissioners. He urged all Rover Scouts who were BP Award winners  to make a commitment today to start at least one new Scout Group under their Leadership; considering it a bounden duty towards the younger generation of our beloved motherland Sri Lanka. He further stated that we have to work towards the target given to SLSA by the Chief Scout His Excellency the President to reach a membership growth of 200,000 by the end on 2024.