The Sri Lanka Scout Association, the largest co-educational youth organisation in the country has mobilized many of their scouts and leaders to carry out relief work to those affected by the recent floods and landslides. Scouts from areas not directly affected have collected bottled water, dry rations, biscuits, milk powder, sanitary pads, diapers and medicines and distributed to the affected. In addition, a large team of doctors who are scouts, Rover scouts from the Kurunegala District, Commissioners from the Colombo District, National Headquarters and scouts of Vidura College led by their leader Capt Kithsiri Jayatilleke conducted 4 health camps at Thummodara, Dabora in the Avisaawella area and Ilukpotha and Badureliya in the Kalutara District together with scouts of Matugama led by Chamila Kumara. Hundreds of patients were treated and free medicines provided.
The scout teams have been able to visit these areas and clean up some of the buildings and distribute packs of dry rations sufficient for a family for four to seven days. Some scouts engaged in distributing clothes while some others were involved in counselling those suffering from depression.
Deputy Chief Commissioner Attorney-at-Law Janaprith Fernando said, the Secretary General of the World Organisation of the Scout Movement Ahmed Alhendawi joined a meeting of the SL Scout Flood Relief Team via SKYPE and discussed the work being carried out and pledged immediate and further contributions from the WOSM and the Asia Pacific Region. The SG also requested SLSA to prepare project proposals to be supported by the Messengers of Peace which is an arm of WOSM.
The SLSA said, their next step is to identify some schools and support them by providing all necessary infrastructure, counselling and meet the requirements of teachers and students to resume school activities, and called upon the former scouts, scouts, parents and the general public to assist in any way possible and contact the Executive Secretary at National Headquarters on telephone 011 5840687 or fax 011 2433131.