INCREDIBLE, yet it is true and deserves our praise and blessings. Out of 198 LTTE child combatants receiving rehabilitation under Bureau of the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation (BCGR), Ministry of Justice & Law Reforms, a total of 40 boys and 38 girls were invested as Boys Scouts and Girl Guides during a recent ceremony while they still continue to receive school education at Ratmalana Hindu College.
Those 38 girls and 40 boys of 14-16 years of age who had been conscripted or forcibly detained by LTTE terrorists before last year’s end of the War for Peace in Wanni, successfully completed basic training on scouting, as recommended and trained by Sri Lanka Scouts Association. During a colourful ceremony plus a glittering camp fire, they received certificates and mementos, as fully fledged Boys Scouts and Girl Guides and experienced a new phase of life, distancing themselves from LTTE inculcated evil thoughts of vicious violence.
This special and rare occasion held at the Child Protective Accommodation and Rehabilitation Centre, Ratmalana under BCGR was graced as the Chief Guest by Brigadier Sudantha Ranasinghe, Commissioner General of Rehabilitation with Mrs Kanthi Fernando, Chief Commissioner of Sri Lanka Girls Guide Association and Mr C Batuwangala, Chief Commissioner of Sri Lanka Scouts Association as Guests of Honour.
Those smiling child rehabilitees receiving their scarves and badges from scout masters saluted the Chief Commissioner of Scouts and Chief Commissioner of Girl Guides on the occasion as their fellow-rehabilitees were breaking into rapturous applause in glee. With the singing of scouting song together, the new girl guides and boy scouts had the experience of enjoying a camp fire, a feature that culminates events ,belonging to scouts and girl guides. The novel spectacle brought entertainment and fellowship to the child rehabilitees who continue to receive equal training in netball, cricket, volleyball, basketball, football, etc under able guidance, extended by Bureau of the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation, off routine school hours. . The investiture and the event, supported by several well-wishers, was ably coordinated by Brigadier L.C Perera, Coordinating Officer, Child Protective Accommodation and Rehabilitation Center at Ratmalana.
Those underage children, some of them who are showing exceptional skills in different fields of studies and other manual and technical spheres, are expected to sit GCE (Ordinary Level) examination shortly. Many of them have already completed different courses in relation to sewing, first-aid, computer, weaving, art, cookery, etc. Expertise from the Army has helped make all these projects successful, enabling those still have parents and relations alive in their original places of residence in the North to visit them in Ratmalana.
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