APR Scout Jamboree in Sri Lanka close to two world heritage sites
In commemoration of the 100 years of scouting in Sri Lanka, the association will host the 29th Asia Pacific Regional Scout Jamboree in the historic town of Dambulla situated about 4 hrs from the international airport. This will be held in the first week of April 2012 and will bring together over 6,000 Scouts from different parts of the country and another 1,500 from overseas.
On Sunday, 19th June, the regional team led by Regional Scout Committee Consultant Mohamed Ali Khalid, accompanied by the Vice Chairman of the APR Programme sub committee Rajalingam Ramasamy made an ocular visit to the proposed Jamboree site and associated venues. With them were Regional Director Abdullah Rasheed and Thian Hiong-Boon, APR Executive Director responsible for Sri Lanka. The team, along with a full documentary and media group first inspected the opening ceremony venue, the Sri Lanka famous Dambulla International Cricket Stadium.
The team travelled with the Chief Commissioner and Jamboree Director Chandrasena Batuwangala with key leaders of various jamboree departments including Janaprith Fernando, Chairman of the APR Management sub committee who will deal with international contingent support, with International Commissioner and Jamboree Deputy Director Shiraz Salih and Jamboree General Secretary Muheed. Kapila Kalaya Perera who is also member of the APR Programme sub committee will be responsible for IST and Human Resources.
The joint meeting discussed at length the work accomplished up to now and set dates for the various key tasks to be accomplished in the coming months inclusive of five issues of jamboree bulletin and the launch of website and brochure.
The Jamboree site boasts of rich surroundings near two world heritage centres namely the Sigiriya Rock and the Dambulla Temple Cave. These sites will be part of the jamboree modular activities. In close proximity is the world famous eco hotel - Heritace Kandalama, where participants will be made aware of the eco friendly practices by the hotel eco team.
It is planned that a module for water testing will be undertaken including the distribution of water testing kits to over 2000 participants who are expected to do the same project when they return home. In addition, the Global Development Village, cultural activities and APR Centre will be put up, apart from the water activities, adventure trails and sub camp activities.
Before leaving Sri Lanka, the regional team and NHQ officials met the Matale host district’s “ jamboree build team” to brief them about the Jamboree. The visiting team also viewed the Christchurch College where scouting in the country began its first troop in 1912 started by F G Stephens, then the Public Works Department engineer.
The team then traveled to Kandy to meet the Chief Minister of the Central Province of Sri Lanka, Hon Serath Ekanayake, to brief him about the Jamboree.
This is the first time Sri Lanka Scout Association is hosting such a major Asia Pacific Regional event. It was very encouraging to hear from the Chief Minister his wholehearted support and assistance from the government in providing the infrastructure at the Jamboree site. He personally welcomed the foreign participants to see the beauty and culture of Sri Lanka.
Picture 7: The regional team, with the key leaders of Sri Lanka Scouts Association, met with the Chief Minister of the Central Province of Sri Lanka, Hon Serath Ekanayakeh to brief him about the 29th Asia Pacific Regional Scout Jamboree.
