Mrs. Sita Rajasuriya, a pioneer of the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association, passed away on Thursday, September 24, 2009. As a member of the Association, Mrs. Rajasuriya held numerous posts, serving finally as Chief Commissioner for 9 years and then President for 5 years.

On a trip to Sri Lanka, by Lady Baden-Powell, the World Chief Guide and wife of the Founder of the Scouting and Guiding Movements, Mr. and Mrs. Rajasuriya arranged for her to be flown to Adam's Peak to view by air, the sacred mountain. The plane journey gave the World Chief Guide the opportunity to persuade Mrs. Rajasuriya to serve the Movement as Chief Commissioner, a post that Mrs. Rajasuriya had previously shied away from.

Mrs. Rajasuriya also set her mark on the face of World Guiding when she became the first Asian to chair a World Conference of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). She was also the first Chairperson of the Asia-Pacific Committee and was the first Sri Lankan to be on the World Committee of WAGGGS, bringing honour to her country and paving the way for other Sri Lankans to follow in her footsteps.

Despite all the glamour and greatness which accompanied the many positions she held in her life, Mrs. Sita Rajasuriya always remained her simple self. With her charming smile and neat way of dressing, she was grace and dignity personified on every occasion. She had a word for everyone, whatever their position in life and whatever their age.

Mrs. Sita Rajasuriya opened a new chapter for the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association by introducing Guiding to the rural areas and by starting a branch for differently abled children. She pioneered the Association's community development projects. She started Guide Companies not only for street girls in urban areas but also for rural girls in remote villages.

Mrs. Sita Rajasuriya, who served the Association for well over 50 years, has been a beacon of light and a guiding star for every member of the Association, irrespective of race, religion, age, caste or creed. Her
dedication, commitment, courage, and the principles by which she lived her life will continue to be a source of inspiration for many girls and young women for generations to come.

Events in September

3R Awards Ceremony in Kandy

The very first Awards Ceremony for the Sri Lanka Girl Guide Association's 3R (Reduce, Re-use, Recycle)
programme, was held on September 15, 2009 at Mahamaya Girls' College, Kandy.

The awards given to Senior Guides who participated in the 3R programme were for the work carried out by them at Adam's Peak and Nuwara Eliya.

Awards were given out by Ms. Grace Tam, Regional Development Executive of the Asia Pacific Region of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) and Ms. Febe Marl-Paat, Member of the Asia Pacific Regional Committee of WAGGGS.

Asia Pacific Regional Partnership Visit

The triennial Partnership Visit by Members of the Asia Pacific Regional Committee of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) was held from September 13 to 19, 2009.

The Partnership Visit was made by Ms. Grace Tam, Regional Development Executive of the Asia Pacific Region of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) and Ms. Febe Marl-Paat, Member of the Asia Pacific Regional Committee of WAGGGS.

General Council 2009

The Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association was held on Saturday, September 19, 2009 at the Methodist College Auditorium in Colombo.

As part of the proceedings, various awards were given to individuals, within the Movement and outside the Movement, in recognition of their services to the Association.