FRIENDSHIP, FELLOWSHIP AND FUN
FORMER SCOUTS AND GUIDES GATHER IN COLOMBO FOR
T15th Asia-pacific
Regional Scout and Guide Fellowship Gathering (15th As-pac Gathering) was hosted by the Sri Lanka Scout and Guide Fellowship and was held in Colombo from 5 to 8 September 2018.
Ninety (90) participants from nine (09) Asia-pacific countries: Australia; Bangladesh; India; Indonesia; Malaysia; Maldives; New Zealand; Pakistan; and
Sri Lanka participated in the Gathering. Mrs. Zalilah Mohd. Taib, Vice Chairman, International Scout and Guide Fellowship (ISGF) also participated.
The theme of the 15th Aspac Gathering was “Together in Friendship, Fellowship and Fun,” was a very appropriate theme. These participants, all former Scouts and Guides are members of their national Scout and Guide Fellowships are adult members, who not only wish to maintain their links with the global Scout and Guide Movements, but who also assist financially and otherwise their own national Scout and Guide Associations thereby helping the young members of their respective countries.
The 15th As-pac Gathering commenced with a “Welcome Dinner” on Wednesday 5 September at which the chief guest was Ms.prashanthi Mahindaratne, Legal Consultant, Julius and Creasy; and the guest of honour was Mr. Prasad Kariyawasam, Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both of them had been members of their High School Girl Guide Company; and Scout Troop, respectively. In their welcome addresses they both lauded the Scout and Guide Movements and the experiences that they both had as a Guide and a Scout respectively and also what they had learned from being members of those organisations..
At the official “Opening Ceremony” held on Thursday 6 September, Dr.anila Dias Bandaranaike who retired as the Assistant Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka was the chief guest and Professor Kapila Perera incumbent Vice Chancellor , University of Moratuwa was the guest of honour. They too had been members respectively of the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association (SLGGA): and the Sri Lanka Scout Association (SLSA) during their school days.
Dr. Dias Bandaranaike whose mother Mrs.mukta Wijesinha had been an iconic figure in the SLGGA for many years, spoke of the various positions that her mother had held nationally and internationally in the SLGGA and in the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) and the great influence that her mother had on her when she was growing up, especially in the sphere of Girl Guiding.
Professor Kapila Perera on the other hand said that there had been no such family influence on him and it had been another school mate who had persuaded him to join the school’s Scout troop. He too said that the values imparted by the Scout Movement had greatly influenced him.
A lively campfire was held on Friday 7 September in the spacious grounds of Temple Trees-- the official residence of the Prime Minister.the campfire itself and the reception that preceded it had been graciously hosted by Professor Maithree Wickramasinghe, herself a former Girl Guide. All participants to the Gathering had been transported to the campfire venue in “tuk-tuks” ..
The agenda for the 15th.as-pac gathering included significant items for discussion such as the triennial report and the triennial accounts; the report of the As-pac Foundation; the As-pac Constitution; As-pac’s Vision 2024; and the election of office bearers for the next triennial.
A Colombo city tour and a two-day trip to Galle were also organised for those delegates who wished to participate in these sight -seeing tours. The next Aspac Gathering, the 16th will be hosted by the Fellowship of Former Scouts and Guides, Malaysia in 20 21 in Penang, Malaysia.
A Colombo city tour and a two-day trip to Galle were also organised for those delegates who wished to participate in these sight -seeing tours