User:112.135.7.153/1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scout Group

1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scout Group (Sinhala: පලවන මහනුවර ධර්මරාජ බාලදක්ෂ සමූහය) is the Scout Group of the Dharmaraja College, Kandy, Sri Lanka, It is founded in 1913, as a second scout Group in Sri Lanka & the First Scout Group in Kandy District. It is one of the prominent scout groups in Sri Lanka with 100 years of scouting history as it is the oldest of continues scout groups in Sri Lanka. It has being the best scout group in Sri Lanka continuesly from 1993 to 2006. The scout group consist of Cub Scouts, Scouts, Rowers and Scout Leaders totaling to 1000, which makes it a one of the largest in whole world. In addition to that it has backing of the most prominent past scouts gathering of Sri Lanka, Old Rajans Scout Association.

1st Kandy Scout Group has produced many distinguish characters including Hon. William Gopallawa, former President of Sri Lanka.

History
In 1907 Robert Stephenson Smyth Robert Baden-Powell organized an experimental camp for a group of 20 boys in Brownsea Island in Pearl Harbour, England. This was not just a scout camp, but was the birth of the Boy Scout movement which has now spread all over the world. Dharmaraja College, Kandy did not take long to follow his footsteps, as in 1913, the first Kandy Scout Troop which is the second Scout Troop in Ceylon was formed. Due to the enthusiasm and drive of the then Principal, Mr. K. F. Billimoria the troop flourished during his reign until his retirement in 1932. Then, the late J. H. de Saram who is a Sinhalese, became the first native Chief Commissioner of Scouting in Ceylon, and his assistant was G.H. de Saram.

First great achievement
The 1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scout Group has a remarkable 99-year history in the local and international scout arena with its very first great achievement, the "King's Flag" which they won for three consecutive years, that is in 1917, 1918 and 1919. This flag was traditionally awarded to a troop in the British Colonies that had the largest number of King Scouts on September 30th in each year. In those years the number of colonies in the British Empire was quite a considerable number and no other troop in the Colonies could emulate that achievement.

Mr. J. H. de Saram held the unique length of time.

Dharmaraja Scouts won the Brigadier Hackett Thomson Championship Flag for All-Round Excellence at the first ever All Island Rally held at the Colombo Race Course in 1917. Scout Henry Thenuwara was the sole Ceylonese representative at the first Imperial Jamboree held in England in 1920 at the Crystal Palace. The Troop had the unique distinction of providing a guard-of-honour when his Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII) visited Ceylon in 1921. This guard-of-honour was drawn up on the platform of the Kandy Railway Station and was personally inspected by His Royal Highness who paid tribute Rajans on very smart turn-out, thereby being the only troop in the East to receive this recognition up to that date in 1921. 1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scouts had the rare opportunity to honour the founder, Lord Baden Powell when he paid a visit to Dharmaraja College in 1921. Dharmaraja scouts had felicitated the founder on three different occasions when he visited Sri Lanka. In 1924 the Troop produced the first Bushman Thong Scout (Senior Scout Award) in Ceylon.

Honour the Founder
1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scouts had the rare opportunity to honour the founder, Lord Baden Powell when he paid a visit to Dharmaraja College in 1921. Dharmaraja scouts had felicitated the founder on three different occasions when he visited Sri Lanka. In 1924 the Troop produced the first Bushman Thong Scout (Senior Scout Award) in Ceylon. The Summit which is on a promontory in the Lakeview Park within the 57-acre land which belongs to Dharmaraja, provides a panoramic view of the surroundings, which had been allocated for the scout troop by the Principal, late Mr. P. de S. Kularatne in 1924. Later, in 1984 this scout centre was named as the Lakeview Park International Scout Centre. The Park which was build on the famous Gilwell Park in London which was designed by Old Rajan Scout Mahendra Nambuge, and it was given a new look with contemporary amenities and will accommodate the foreign delegates who are due to here for the anniversary celebrations. In 1930 Dharmaraja Scouting carried a niche in the history, when their founder Mr. J. H. de Saram was appointed as the first Native Chief Commissioner of National Scout Association. He rendered a yeoman service to the scout movement for a successful and continuous 12 years. The Troop won the Sir Andrew Caldecott Silver Cup for the Best Troop in Sri Lanka in 1957 and again in 1958 when she won the Island Merit Flag for being the Best Troop at the Kandy District Rally.

Dharmaraja Centenary Jim 1987
When Dharmaraja College celebrated the Centenary year in 1987, 1st Kandy Scout Group and the Old Rajans Scout Association organized the "'‘Centenary JIM 1987’'" to commemorate 100 years in grand style. It was a very refreshing and fascinating programme which any scout can remember with pride. President J. R. Jayewardene the chief guest at the "'‘Centenary JIM’'" paid tribute to the then principal A. P. Gunaratna, Group Scout Master Bandara Weerasekera and the organizers for conducting a Jamboree of exceptional standard.
 * Name :Dharmaraja Centenary Jim 1987
 * Timelines :From 18th to 22nd February 1987

DESAI Jamborette 1994
1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scout Group celebrated 80 years of scouting with DESAI Jamborette 1994. DESAI organized jointly by the 1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scout Group and Old Rajans Scout Association.
 * Name :DESAI Jamborette 1994
 * Timelines :From 18th to 22nd February 1994

Rajans Venture '97
Dharmaraja College celebrated its 110th Anniversary in year 1997 by organizing a series of events. As part of that, 1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scout Group and Old Rajans Scout Association jointly organized the "Rajans Venture '97". It is the first adventure program to be held in Sri Lanka with, Water Activities Hiking Ground Activities


 * Name :Rajans Venture '97
 * Timelines :From 18th to 22nd February 1997

Rajans Millennum Jamboree 2000
1st Kandy Dharamaraja Scout Group together with Old Rajans Scout Association organized the Rajans Millennium Jamboree 2000, to commemorate the dawn of new millennium and to celebrate the winning of Island Merit flag for best scout group in Sri Lanka for consecutively from 1996.
 * Name :Rajans Millennum Jamboree 2000
 * Timelines :From 18th to 22nd February 2000

Rajans Jim 2003
Year 2003 marked the 90 years of scouting at 1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scout Group. To celebrate the 90 years, 1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scout Group and Old Rajans Scout Association jointly organized the "Rajans Jim 2003". This was the 5th International Scout Program to be organized and held at the Lake View Scout Centre.
 * Name :Rajans Jim 2003
 * Timelines :From 14th to 20th August 2003

Ransai 2008
1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scout Group celebrated its 95th anniversary in 2008 by organizing an adventure and leadership program named "RANSAI 2008", Rajans Ninety-fifth Scout Anniversary International. This scout leadership and adventure program, is the first ever fully sponsored scout international adventure event in Sri Lanka. This was held at the Lakeview Park International Scout Centre, Kandy from December 26th to 30th 2008. 'RANSAI 2008' was organised by the 1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scout Group and Old Rajans Scout Association as their 6th international event to mark the 95th anniversary of the Group and the 30th anniversary of the Association. Prior to this, both the Group and the Association had organised five international events - Dharmaraja Centenary JIM in 1987, DESAI Jamborette in 1994, Rajans Venture in 1997, Rajans Millennium Jamboree in 2000 and the Rajans JIM 2003 in 2003 on a grand scale to commemorate their long history. "Forward with Strength" was the theme of the "RANSAI 2008" and two senior scouts from each scouts and girl guides group in Sri Lanka as well as from each overseas country, were invited to participate in the program. Mr. S. M. Keerthiratne, then President of Sri Lanka Scout Association and Principal of Dharmaraja College, was the Chief of "RANSAI 2008".
 * Name :Rajans Ninety fifth Scout Anniversary International (RANSAI) 2008
 * Timelines :From 26th December 2008 to 30th December 2008
 * Highlights :This is the first of it kind in Sri Lanka as it is the first and only sponsored leadership training program for scouts. The event started with colorful exhibition of Sri Lankan cultural display and enriched with,
 * Adventure Activities
 * Ground Activities
 * Leadership training sessions

Scouting Section
Age range Scouting section
 * 7 to 11 - Cubs Scouts
 * 11 to 15 - Junior Scout
 * 15 and 18 - Senior Scouts
 * 18 and 24 - Rover Scout

Old Rajans Scouts Association
Old Rajans Scout Association is the gathering of past scouts of 1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scout Group. The association is the pioneer old scouts’ association established in Sri Lanka, is playing an invaluable role in promoting the Scout Movement in Dharmaraja College, in the District of Kandy and generally in the whole of Sri Lanka.

ORSA is formed in 12th November 1978. Primary objective of the association is to maintain strong ties with the 1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scout Group and work towards the betterment of Scouting at Dharamaraja College.

Lake View Park International Scout Centre
The summit which is on a promontory in the Lake view Park within the 57-acre land belonging to Dharmaraja college, provides a panoramic view of the surroundings. The Park is modelled on the famous Gilwell Park in London consists of rally grounds, camp sites, campfire circle, the Den, Kitchen complex, lecture rooms and dormitories.

Being the home for the 1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scout group, Lake View Park International Scout Centre is Sri Lanka's one of the most prestige scout centre as the founder of scout moment Load Baden Powell him self has visited this very location.

Geographically, situated in the centre of the hill country mountain range which it self is a in a shape of a Anchor and the Lake View hill being the center of it.

The Lake View hill or better known as the Dharmaraja Hill is the heights among the mountains surrounding the capital city of Central Province of Sri Lanka, Kandy.