Appointment of new chief Scout Commissioner raises eyebrows

The Scout Movement in Sri Lankan has been rocked by political interference

By Prageeth Sampath Karunathilaka and Sudharika Gurusinghe

Scouting is a worldwide youth movement that was founded with the aim of promoting the mental, physical, spiritual and creative development of young people. It began in 1907 when Lieutenant General Robert Baden-Powell of the British Army organised the first Scout camp on Brownsea Island in England.

In 1908, Baden-Powell published the book Scouting for Boys, which outlined the principles of scouting and was inspired by his earlier military writings. In the early twentieth century, the movement initially catered to boys under three age groups: Cub Scouts, Scouts, and Senior Scouts. The movement expanded rapidly under this structure. In 1910, the Girl Guides Association was established, and corresponding age groups for girls were introduced, namely Junior Guides, Girl Guides, and Senior Guides.

The Sri Lanka Scout Movement was established in 1912, five years after the founding of the World Scout Movement. Under the leadership of the Englishman F. G. Stevens, scouting activities in Sri Lanka began at Christ Church College in Matale. By 1915, the total number of Scouts in the country, including teachers, had reached 248. Thereafter, the movement continued to grow and was formally established as the Sri Lanka Scout Association.

The Sri Lanka Scout Association is a scouting organization in Sri Lanka and operates under the Sri Lanka Scout Council. The Association became a member of the world Organization of Scout Movement in 1953. The Ceylon Boy Scouts Council was established under Act No. 13 of 1957. This Act, which was introduced in the Sri Lankan Parliament in 1957 as a private member’s motion, was later amended. As provided under the Act, the Sri Lanka Scout Association functions under a board of officers appointed annually.

Once an independent institution 

In this manner, the Scout Movement, which expanded across the country, functioned as an independent institution free from political involvement. The President appointed a representative to the position of Scout Commissioner. However, it is reported that political influence has recently begun to affect the Scout Movement, which has faced various issues over time. These developments followed the removal of Attorney at Law Janaprith Fernando, who had been duly qualified and approved to serve as Scout Commissioner until the end of 2026, and the subsequent appointment of Attorney at Law Manoj Lasantha Nanayakkara. This appointment was made by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his capacity as Chief Scout. The former Commissioner has alleged that this appointment was carried out in violation of the Sri Lanka Scout Association Act and its Rules.

Among the allegations raised is the claim that political allegiance to the current government has now become the sole qualification for holding the position of Scout Commissioner. The Sri Lanka Scout Association was incorporated under the Ceylon Scout Council Act No. 13 of 1957. Under Section 8(1) of the Act, the Council is empowered to make rules. The appointment of the Chief Commissioner, Deputy Chief Commissioner, National Training Commissioner, and Senior Commissioners is made by the Chief Scout (President), under Section 2(1)(f) and Rule 8 of the Act. The President assumes the position of Chief Scout under Section 2(1)(a) and Rule 4, and may either accept or decline this ceremonial role. As stated in Supreme Court Case SCFR/335/2018 (page 9), if the President accepts the ceremonial position of Chief Scout, his role is limited to making appointments recommended to him by the Association.

It further states that the role of the Chief Scout is purely ceremonial. Rule 54 provides that the licences of all Commissioners are valid until 31 December of each year and must be renewed by the appointing authority. At the Executive Committee meeting of the Sri Lanka Scout Council held on 10.12.2025, the Chairman and the Secretary unanimously decided to submit the licences of the Chief Commissioner and Senior Commissioners to the Chief Scout, on behalf of the Council, for renewal for the year 2026. Accordingly, the relevant documents were submitted on 14.12.2025. The Scout Association hadn’t requested the appointment of a new Chief Commissioner, as the incumbent Chief Commissioner still had nine months remaining to complete his five-year term. As the renewal of licences was delayed, more than 200 Commissioners and Life Members from across Sri Lanka formally requested the Chief Scout on 5.01.2026 to extend the service period of Chief Commissioner Janaprith Fernando and the other Commissioners by renewing their licences.

However, disregarding this request, the President appointed Attorney at Law Manoj Lasantha Nanayakkara as the Chief Commissioner under Section 2(1)(f) of the Scout Act. Former Scout officers have alleged that this is the first instance in the history of the Scout Movement in Sri Lanka in which such an appointment has been made.

The General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Scout Council was held on 6.07.2019, at which several resolutions were adopted. Among these, the General Assembly approved that any person appointed to the positions of Chief Commissioner, Deputy Chief Commissioner, International Commissioner, National Programme Commissioner, or Assistant Chief Commissioner of the Sri Lanka Scout Association must possess at least five years of service as a Headquarters Commissioner prior to appointment, or must have completed a full five year term as a licensed District Commissioner. In addition, such a person must have successfully completed at least the fourth stage Advanced Wood Badge Course of the National Training Programme.

A resolution has been adopted by the General Assembly for appointments to positions in this manner. These qualifications and appointment procedures are clearly recorded in the minutes of the General Assembly. Despite this, former members of the Sri Lanka Scout Association pointed out that Attorney at Law Manoj Lasantha Nanayakkara was appointed instead of permitting Attorney at Law Janaprith Fernando, the Chief Scout Commissioner who had successfully completed four years of his term, to serve the remaining fifth year.

Several decisions were taken at the Special General Assembly meeting of the Sri Lanka Scout Council held on 20.12.2025. Among them was a resolution to extend the term of office of the former Chief Scout Commissioner and other officers for the following year. Notwithstanding this resolution, Attorney at Law Manoj Lasantha Nanayakkara was appointed to the position of Chief Commissioner. It is further reported that although Nanayakkara is actively involved in politics, he has not been an active member of the Scout Movement since 2019 and is not a lay member of the Movement. At present, 36 officers, including the Commissioner of the Scout Movement, have been appointed at the national headquarters level, along with 37 Assistant District Commissioners across 37 districts. In addition, 352 officers are involved in the national training structure, supported by 425 Assistant Commissioners. Attorney at Law Manoj Nanayakkara is one among these 425 Assistant Commissioners. Former Chief Commissioner Janaprith Fernando has stated that, based on seniority and active service, Nanayakkara would rank below 600 to 700 active officers within the Movement.

Janaprith Fernando is the only Sri Lankan to have been elected to the Asia Pacific Regional Scout Committee in 2012 and to the World Scout Committee in 2017. He is a member of both the World Scout Committee and the Asia Pacific Regional Scout Committee. He also serves as a consultant to the World Scout Movement, Chairman of the Asia Pacific Regional Volunteer Support Committee, and Member Director of the Asia Pacific Evergreen Scouts. He previously served as Deputy Commissioner. Following the resignation of former Chief Scout Commissioner Milinda Peiris, Fernando was nominated by the Scout Council as Chief Commissioner and was authorised to serve as Chief Scout Commissioner for the period 2021 to 2026.

However, Janaprith Fernando pointed out that the Scout Movement has been politicized by the President’s appointment of Attorney at Law Manoj Lasantha Nanayakkara as Chief Commissioner. According to the judgment of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka in case number SC (F/R) No. 335/2018, page 9 states as follows. “The Petitioner’s contention that the President of the Republic being the Chief Scout is an indication of executive control, holds no merit as it is merely a ceremonial position which the President can decide not to accept, at his/her discretion. The President, if he/she so accepts the Title, becomes the Patron of the Scout Association and appoints the Chief Commissioner, Honorary Chief Commissioners and other higher officials merely upon the recommendation forwarded to him/her by the Association, while the other office bearers are elected by the members at the Annual General Meeting of the Council.”

The President made this appointment in the context of a request submitted by the Scout Council to update the positions held, following decisions taken at the General Assembly of the Scout Council. This request was made under Rule 54 of the Scout Act. However, no response was received until 29 December. Thereafter, the Secretary of the Council sent a reminder letter to the President. As no response was received to that communication either, the Secretary sent a further letter on January 10. No response was received to this letter as well.

Meanwhile, the Chief Scout appointed new Scout Commissioners on 13 January under Section 02.01(f) of the Scout Act. These appointments were made at a time when the Scout Association had not requested any such appointments. These appointments are contrary to the judgment of the Supreme Court. Former Chief Scout Commissioner Attorney at Law Janaprith Fernando further pointed out that political affiliation was treated as the sole qualification for these appointments.

This newspaper also contacted former Scout Commissioner Merrill Gunathilaka and the current Chairman of the Sri Lanka Scout Association, Thushara Sumanasekara, to seek their views on the new appointment. However, no response was received from either party.

The new Commissioner Attorney at Law Manoj Lasantha Nanayakkara (Left) receives his appointment from the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake