The Sri Lanka Scout Association ( Shri Lanka Baladaksha Sangamaya; ), 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. 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. 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. 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

All Ceylon Rally

National Scout Jamboree

National Jamboree is organised by National HQ.

Notable Scouters

Programme sections

The Programme Commissioner of the Sri Lanka Scout Association is Sarath Mataraarachchi (2019 - 2024)

Rover Scouts

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.

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. 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 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

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 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."

Scout training camps

Pedro Scout Training Camp near Nuwara Eliya (6.96352°N, 80.80652°W) is known for its tropical forests and hills. Lee Dassanayake Scout Activity Center near Mirigama (7.28936°N, 80.14306°W) 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 (7.25194°N, 80.64968°W) 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. 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:

Scouting Magazine Sri Lanka

Scouting Magazine Sri Lanka 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.