Sunday Times 2
For the first time, a Sri Lankan elected to World Scout Committee
Deputy Chief Commissioner of the Sri Lanka Scout Association, Janaprith Fernando has been elected to the World Scout Committee (WSC), the first Sri Lankan to sit on this prestigious body in the 105- year history of Scouting in Sri Lanka. This achievement for Sri Lanka came at the 41st World Scout Conference which was held in Azarbaijan from August 14- 17.
Janaprith Fernando does the country proud
The Scouts movement in Sri Lanka which proudly celebrated its 105th anniversary this year was started in 1912 by British engineer F.G. Stevans at Christ Church College, Matale. This was just five years after the Scouting movement was launched by Robert Baden- Powell in 1907 after the publication of his book ‘Scouting for Boys’ .
The Scouting movement aims to help young people in their physical, spiritual and mental development. It helps to build up children and young adults to live socially constructive lives, with emphasis on outdoor and survival skills. What started with just 20 boys has now grown to a voluntary global movement.
“Scouting is the only organisation to give an all round training to youth. Corporates spend hundreds of thousands of rupees on career training for employees. Whereas Scout training would give youngsters better life skills at a younger age, with no cost,” says Mr. Fernando.
The World Organization of the Scouting Movement (WOSM) was inaugurated in 1920 and comprises three bodies; The World Scout Committee, World Scout Conference and the World Scout Bureau.
The World Scout Committee is the body that makes the administrative decisions within the WOSM. There are six regions represented within the WOSM ; Asia- Pacific, Europe, Africa, Euroasia, Latin America and Arab regions. 12 WOSM members are elected from the six regions and hold office for three years. “Representatives from Latin America and Europe did not even know where Sri Lanka is. So, this puts Sri Lanka on the map. I felt really happy when I was elected,” said Mr. Fernando.
Speaking of significant developments in the Scouting arena in Sri Lanka, Mr. Fernando mentions Scouting for the differently- abled; there is a Scouting Guild for the Ratmalana and Mulleriyawa blind schools, also the introduction of Sea and Air Scouting so that Scouts can gain hands-on experience in aircraft and boat handling.
With around 55,000 Scouts here, Scouting plays a big role in many schools across the island and membership is open for everyone from the ages of 11 to 25, free of charge.
Mr. Fernando emphasising the fact that no Scout has ever been involved in violence, not even during the 1971 insurgency; “Scouts have a sense of responsibility for the country. Diversity is one of the main Scouting principles. We work together.”
Recently, the Scouting movement has been campaigning against polythene use. The Sri Lanka Scout Association made it their mission to adopt Zero Waste policies last May. Via school Scouting organisations they have been spreading the Zero Waste message. And during the catastrophic floods last May, the Sri Lanka Scouts were one of the first organisations to respond.
For Mr. Fernando, his appointment to the World Scout Committee is one more step in a career full of laurels. Born in Ratmalana, in 1967, Janaprith Fernando first started scouting in 1979, at the age of 11, while at St. Thomas Preparatory School, and would later continue Scouting at S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia. He cites his parents support as paramount to him reaching the pinnacle in his Scouting days. Hailing from a family of two brothers and three sisters, he fondly recollects that his family surrounded him and cried on the day he left for his first camp in Nuwara Eliya, when he was 11.
In 1984, he was decorated with the “President’s’ Award “, the highest award a Scout can receive in Sri Lanka.
He has a long record of service with the movement. During the 2009 – 2012 period he was chairman of the management sub – committee for the Asian Pacific region.
In Sri Lanka, after completion of his tenure of five years as the District Commissioner of Colombo, he was appointed a Special Commissioner by the National Scout Headquarters, and later became the International Commissioner before being appointed as the Deputy Chief Commissioner for Sri Lanka in 2016.
He has also received many international honours including a medal for distinguished services 2011 and Scout Service Medal from the Prime Minister of Malaysia in 2013. In 2014, he was awarded the Green Jade Lion medal from the President of the Republic of Taiwan and the same year received the Bronze Tamaraw Award from the Vice President of the Republic of Philippines among other accolades.
An Attorney – at-Law by profession he is the Vice President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka. His family, wife Avanthi, his son and daughter are also involved actively in the Scouts and Girl Guides movements.