The Sri Lanka Scout Association (Sinhala: ශ්රී ලංකා බාලදක්ෂ සංගමයShri Lanka Baladaksha Sangamaya; Tamil: இலங்கைச் சாரணர் சங்கம்), is a Scouting organization in Sri Lanka operated by the Ceylon Scout Council. The Ceylon Scout Council is a corporation formed by Act No. 13 of 1957.[2] The association became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1953. The coeducational Sri Lanka Scout Association has 33,709 members as of 2014.[3] in 2016 the year that the National Organisation reached 104 years the Scouting Population in Sri Lanka had increased to 55,078 the growth taking place against the year 2015 was 29% which was a great achievement by the SLSA.
There are various community development projects carried out in cooperation with government organizations, United Nations and other service organisations.
1914 - (14 June) The first Colombo (Governor's Own) Scout troop was established. It was the first open Scout troop and the third Scout troop in Sri Lanka
1914 - The 1st Galle Mahinda Scout Group, was established at Mahinda College, Galle by Francis George Stevens
1917 - King's Flag (awarded by His Majesty the King George V) was won by the 1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scouts for the first time in Ceylon Scouting history.
1917 - First all Ceylon Rally at Havelock Race Course, Colombo.
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.[citation needed]
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.[citation needed]
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 becomes the first native Chief Commissioner.[4][5]
1932 - All Ceylon Scout Craft exhibition at Katugastota, Kandy.
1934 - Lord and Lady Baden-Powell visit Sri Lanka[6]
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 editions of Scouting for Boys were published.
1952 - Ceylon Jamboree at Koombi Kele, Colombo. (near the present BMICH, Colombo.)
1953 - The Boy Scouts Association Ceylon Branch is succeeded by the Ceylon Boy Scouts Association.
1957 - Ceylon Boy Scouts Council (Incorporation) Act passed by the parliament[2] nationalizing the former Ceylon branch of The Boy Scouts Association of the United Kingdom under the control of the Ceylon Boy Scouts Council.
1962 - Golden Jubilee Jamboree at Race Course, Colombo.
1965 - 25 November - 'Cub Scout Tattoo' a Unique Performance in Police ground.
1965 - Mr.Vincent Perera, a Mayor Of Colombo renamed the Lower lake road to "BALADAKSHA MAWATHA"
1965 - "BALADAKSHA HANDA"[7] Special Sinhala Radio Program Started with SLBC.
1966 - The Cub Scout Golden Jubilee Celebrations in Sri Lanka and the World.
1967 - Fitzroy H. Gunesekera becomes Chief Commissioner.
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 Jayasinha becomes Chief Commissioner.
1990 - 1st SAARC Jamboree at Vihara Maha Devi Park, Colombo. Chief Commissioner Rex Jayasinha 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 the University of Morotuwa.
2009 - The initiation 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.[9][10]
2011 - Sri Lankan First Equestrian Scouts are invested, in 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.[11]
2012 The Sri Lanka Scout Association celebrated 100 years of Scouting in Sri Lanka, organized a centenary Scout walk, issued a new stamp and a Rs.2/= coin, and was 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.
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 to 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.
Youth between the ages of 17 and 26 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.
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. 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.
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.
Sri Lanka Air Force is the pioneer of Air Scouting in Sri Lanka. The First Air Scout Troop 57th Colombo was started in 1972 by Sri Lanka Air Force with the direction of the Commander of the Air Force Air Chief Marshal Padi Mendis and first Group Scout Leader Wing Commander PT Silva. At present [when?] Sri Lanka Air Force Air Scout group has more than 1,500 Air Scouts organised in 10 Air Scouts Troops. The First Sri Lanka Air Rover crew started in 2017 with 15 Air Rovers at Sri Lanka Air Force Base Rathmalana.
Air Scouts are being trained in aviation and flying-based activities with the support of the Sri Lanka Air Force. In addition, Air Scouts follow the same Scouting activities and badge schemes as normal Scouts, Further, Air Scouts undergo aeronautical and technical training in aircraft, Design Model Aircraft, Design UAVs, Design quadrocopters, Air Cargo Operation, Aircraft under wing operation and Airport management. Air Scouts have different uniforms from Air Scouts in other countries.
There are claims that Major Baden Fletcher Smyth Baden–Powell, youngest brother of the founder of BP, Late Lieutenant General Robert Baden–Powell and an aviator, first brought flying-based activities into Scouting. However, as late as July 1932, Baden Baden-Powell wrote:
"…it has been suggested that Air Scouts should be organized in the same way as Sea Scouts."
Chairman of Sri Lanka Air Force Air Scouts - Group Captain Paminda Jayawardhana
Deputy Chairman of Sri Lanka Air Force Air Scouts - Group Captain Sujeeva Ponnamperuma
Secretary of Sri Lanka Air Force Air Scouts - Wing Commander Dr.Rajeev Pagoda
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.[citation needed]
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