On the occasion of the Committee NSO Visit (CNV) to Colombo, the Scout Association of Sri Lanka (SLSA) assembled a huge rally to draw public attention to young people’s call for a more peaceful and healthier environment. Thousands of Scouts and their parents lined up both sides of Colombo’s main street in a 15-minute walk towards Sasakawa Hall for the opening of the CNV. While walking, Scouts held messages for environment and peace interventions, and underscored the Scout Promise and Law.

Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Committee members and key leaders of SLSA met for the CNV from 17th to 19th January 2010 at the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo. CNV is a partnership visit between the regional committee and leaders of National Scout Organizations (NSOs) to assess key functional areas. Sri Lanka Scout Commissioners were well prepared for the visit and have a good grasp of issues that are crucial to the effectiveness of SLSA. As a conclusion, both the visiting team and SLSA leaders signed a commitment to work for the growth of the association with greater efficiency.

Part of the visit was a dialogue with young people where they discussed a variety of issues. Some of them expressed their aspiration for more international Scouting opportunities within Sri Lanka. Furthermore, they would like to see that Scouting is introduced deeper into the rural communities around the country.

Through a press conference, the CNV team faced the media, many of whom were accomplished Scouts, to explain the purpose of the visit and to engage the support of media for a greater visibility of Scouting.

Chief Commissioner Chandrasena Batuwangala headed the Sri Lankan team for both the CNV and the press conference. The visiting team comprised of Regional Scout Committee (RSC) Vice-Chairmen Prakorb Mukura and Dr Mohd Mukhyuddin bin Sarwani, RSC member Dr Chao Shou-Po, APR consultant Mohammed Ali Khalid, Regional Director Abdullah Rasheed and Director Thian Hiong-Boon of APR Office.

Source: February 2010 issue of APR INBOX