Groundbreaking initiative by Sri Lanka Scout Association

Wednesday, 5 February 2025 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Scouts world over commemorate their Founder, Lord Baden-Powell on his birth anniversary 22 February annually. This year the Sri Lanka Scout Association in addition to commemorative events has taken steps to join the Government’s “Clean Sri Lanka” initiative. This groundbreaking new concept will be launched island-wide on this day.

This initiative will be activated in all 37 Scout Districts in the country. The SL Scout Association and its district branches have undertaken to clean and renovate 60 railway stations across the country. Scouts will gather at the identified railway stations and carry out “shramadhana” community service at the railway stations and its surroundings. SLSA in addition to this project has also undertaken to clean and maintain several main bus stands across the country. Scouts are at present working on developing ‘apps’ relevant to railway stations for the convenience of commuters.

The project initially will be carried out for one year to maintain and improve the infrastructure facilities at the railway stations that require same. One of the key objectives of this project is to educate the general public, making them aware of taking ownership of public services, through the scouts by displaying messages and posters at key places.

The Scouts of the Uva Province will carry out a project to create awareness among the many tourists and visitors around the Nine Arch Bridge between the Ella and Demodara railway stations. Apart from this certain districts will carry out beach clean ups and other environmental related projects.

The Scout Association is partnering with the Ministry of Transport and other Governmental and Local Government Institutions around the country in bringing this project to fruition.

This concept was birthed by the Chief Commissioner, Attorney-at-Law Janaprith Fernando with the blessings of Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Aviation Secretary Prof. Kapila Perera. Coordination of this project is handled by Asst. Chief Commissioner, AVM (Rtd) Andrew Wijesuriya and assisted by Asst. Head Quarters Commissioner Capt. (Rtd) Kithsiri Jayathilake, and the 37 District Commissioners and their teams.

The Sri Lanka Scout Association requests the kind support of the general public on this initiative to improve and raise the standards of public areas which are used on a daily basis by the people of Sri Lanka.