WOSM Gen-Sec finds SL part of 10M South Asia scouts – impressive

• We are elated and excited that the island got this opportunity and also wish the scouting movement for their efforts

By PRANAVESH SIVAKUMAR  

The population of ten-million scouts and girl guides in Asia Pacific and Sri Lanka are part and parcel of that was hailed as a “very impressive number” by David Berg, Secretary General, World Organization of Scouting Movement during yesterday’s opening of South Asian Association of National Scout Organisations (SAANSO) Chief Commissioners conference.  
Inaugurated by Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath and being held in Sri Lanka for the first time, Berg said, “If I did calculation in my head, we’re serving in South Asia, around 10 million scouts and guides, which I think is a very impressive number. And that is right”.  
“Now, of course, if we look at the broader Asia Pacific region, nowhere is the impact of scouting in the world greater than in the Asia Pacific region. 60% of the worldwide scout population calls Asia Pacific home”, he added.  
“I’m honoured to call Asia Pacific home for the last 12 years as well”, he declared.  
Minister Herath hailed it as a proud moment for the nation holding this regional conference.  
“We are elated and excited that the island got this opportunity and also wish the scouting movement for their efforts in this. Especially, when it’s a country first. We also hope there will be more such opportunities in future”, he said.  
Janaprith Fernando, SL’s Scout Association Chief Commissioner in his opening address credited Minister Herath for recalling in the parliament that cub scouts, thousands of them, under the Clean Sri Lanka programme, cleaned 110 railway stations recently.  
The conference is aimed at strengthening the cooperation and networking among National Scouting in South Asia, enhance regional cooperation and develop strong solidarity within the Asia Pacific region and the global Scout Movement  
SAANSO returned to physical hosting after four years.