Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association conclude successful 51st AGM

The Chief Guest was welcomed by the Butterfly Unit. From left: Butterflies Commissioner Yamuna Hettiarachchi, Chief Guest Girl Guide Association Malaysia Chief Commissioner Dato Jeyadhevi Subramaniam and Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association President Prof. Anoja Fernando. Far right: Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association Chief Commissioner Sulari Jayawardena 

The Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association (SLGGA) successfully concluded its 51st AGM with Dato’ Jeyadhevi Subramaniam, Chief Commissioner of the Girl Guides Association of Malaysia, presiding as the Chief Guest. 

“My wealth is my experience, my strength is my knowledge,” said Subramaniam, who has 50+ years of Girl Guiding experience, 36+ years of teaching experience, and is an accomplished sportswoman, with experience both in Malaysia and internationally where she has served on various boards and forums related to Guiding.

Chief Commissioner Visakha Tillekeratne and President Professor Anoja Fernando, together with Manishini Ekanayake, International Commissioner, SLGGA, also addressed the gathering. 

“To enable girls and young women to develop their fullest potential as responsible citizens of the country and the world is our mission,” said Professor Anoja Fernando, speaking at the event. The lives of millions of girls and women around the world have been influenced by the Girl Guide movement which today has more than 10 million members worldwide in 146 countries. This movement which began in the United Kingdom in 1909 spread to many countries in the then British Empire and in 1917 the movement took root in Ceylon (as Sri Lanka was then called). “The association has also targeted the expansion of our membership to include at least 10% of the girl population of Sri Lanka by 2020, so that we could be a strong voice for girls and young women,” said Chief Commissioner Visakha Tillekeratne. “The Guide movement today counts 91,000 members in Sri Lanka and we are confident of reaching our target of 250,000 by 2020 as many new leaders have been trained. A number of strategies are in place to increase membership rapidly, while maintaining quality standards.”

The Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association prides itself on being a voluntary, non-government secular organisation which is open to girls and women from all walks of life, irrespective of their social or economic situation. It is also an inter-generational organisation bringing together children, youth, older persons all working together to implement an innovative non-formal education program combining community service activities with usual Girl Guide activities such as camping, hiking and adventure programs. 

Being a diverse and inclusive organisation the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association encourages disabled girls and women to join and be integrated into society. Today the association’s membership counts over 90,000 girls and young women. Many social issues such as violence, malnutrition, sexual and reproductive health, poverty, education and mental health are addressed by the association.

The Guard of Honour, Grand Salute, Grand Flutter, presentation of a detailed Annual Report, adoption of accounts and other matters concluded the 51st AGM of the Sri Lanka Girl Guides movement.