JOTA, JOTI in the Negombo Scouts District
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The 60th JOTA (Jamboree On The Air) and the 21st JOTI (Jamboree On The Internet) were held from Oct.20-22, at Maris Stella College Negombo, with the participation of about 160 Scouts in the Negombo Scouts District.
It was a significant event as this kind of Jamboree was held simultaneously in 160 countries worldwide, using advanced technology which enabled participants communicate with one another, irrespective of their location, share their views and build brotherhood among them.
Speaking to the Sunday Times, Negombo District Scouts Commissioner Lakshan Perera said, “This is the 21st Jamboree held in the Negombo Scouts District. The objective is twofold. One is to give our Scouts a training on international communication. The other is to give some experience on camping. Here we have selected Patrol Leaders (PL) and Assistant PLs, 8 from each Scouts troop of schools in the Negombo District. This time, apart from Explorer Scouts (normal Scouts), there are Sea Scouts and Air Scouts too, participating in this Jamboree. In 2014, we had only 50 Scouts at the Jamboree, but this year there are about 160 Scouts, which is a remarkable achievement compared with other years.”
He further said, “I would like to make an appeal to the Zonal Director of Education Negombo, to give some room in one of the schools, so that we could carry out our work smoothly.”
Addressing the Scouts, Negombo Zonal Education Director K.A.C. Fernando said, “This a gesture of your good work, where we all could pool our efforts to help our young ones emerge with good, strong, decent and able personality. We need such personalities in our Education field. While I appreciate your work, I promise you to accommodate you in one of our schools, so that you could work easily.”
The team of Training Instructors was led by Wood Badge Holder Asst Commissioner Roy Fernando. All the participants were presented valuable certificates, badges and a booklets at the closing ceremony of the Jamboree. - K.L. Richard Walter Perera