February 23, Colombo (LNW): Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya on Saturday called upon young Scouts to take an active and principled role in shaping the nation’s future, as she addressed celebrations marking the 169th birth anniversary of Robert Baden-Powell and World Scout Thinking Day.
The commemorative event was held on February 22 at the National Scout Headquarters, drawing Scout leaders, district representatives and youth members from across the island.
In her address, Dr Amarasuriya underscored that Scouting is fundamentally about character-building rather than titles or rank. She reminded the audience that the spirit of the movement lies in discipline, community service and readiness to respond in times of need — ideals captured in the enduring motto, “Be Prepared”.
She encouraged Scouts to grow into responsible citizens who combine knowledge with compassion, embrace diversity and use modern technology wisely and ethically.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of environmental stewardship, urging Scout groups to expand initiatives such as tree-planting campaigns, conservation of water sources and local clean-up drives. She noted that youth-led environmental action could make a tangible difference in addressing climate-related challenges facing the country.
As part of the ceremony, several districts received laptop computers under a nationwide Scout Digitalisation Project aimed at strengthening administrative capacity and digital literacy. First-aid kits were also distributed to support community response activities and training programmes.
Chief Scout Commissioner Manoj Nanayakkara presented the Prime Minister with a commemorative Scout stamp collection and special cover, marking the significance of the occasion.
Senior government officials, including the Secretary to the Prime Minister, representatives of the Sri Lanka Scout Association, and uniformed Scouts from various provinces attended the event, reaffirming their commitment to service, leadership and national development.