Janaprith, first Sri Lankan to be elected to World Scout Movement APRSC

International Commissioner of Sri Lanka Scouts, Attorney at Law Janaprith Fernando has been was elected to the Asia Pacific Regional Scout Committee (APRSC) of the World Organisation of the Scout Movement at the 24th Asia Pacific Regional Scout Conference held in Dhaka from November 24 to 29, under the patronage of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Chairmanship of the Vice President of Phillipines Jejomar C Binay.

The Asia Pacific Regional Scout Committee is the governing body of the Asia Pacific Region which accounts for 30 million scouts, out of the 36 million membership worldwide. This is the first time a Sri Lankan is elected to this prestigious post. The election is for a period of six years and the election of Janaprith Fernando for this post is a great honour to Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Scout Association which is celebrating its Centenary this year.

Fernando was educated at St Thomas' Preparatory School, Kollupitiya and S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia and excelled in studies, sports and other extra curricular activities. He was the President of many Societies and Associations in the schools. He won his President's Scout Award in 1984 and was a school prefect.

He was elected as the Chairman of the First Scout Youth Forum held in 1983 in Anuradhapura and was selected to represent Sri Lanka at the 7th Australian Venture in 1984 together with another scout.

A Wood Badge Scout Leader he also functioned as the Scout Leader of S Thomas' and a District Scout Leader of Colombo. He was appointed an Assistant Director Commissioner of Colombo in 1994 and was appointed the District Commissioner Colombo in 2005. Serving as District Commissioner for five years in Colombo, he was able to raise the much needed funds and investments of the District and was instrumental in obtaining a land to build a permanent Camp Site for the District.

Fernando has been serving in the Executive Committees of Colombo District Branch and Sri Lanka Scout Association since 1986. Fernando was elected as the President of the Sri Lanka Queen's and President's Scouts Guild in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

He led teams of Scouts in building toilets in Refugee Camps and eight houses for victims of the 2004 Tsunami. Fernando has participated in the National Jamborees held in Sri Lanka from the third National Jamboree to the 9th Jamboree and was in charge of the overseas scouts at the 29th Asia Pacific Regional Scout Jamboree and Sri Lanka Centenary Jamboree held in April this year in Dambulla with the participation over 700 overseas scouts and officials.

He has also served in the Organizing Committees of over 25 Scout Camporees organzied by the Colombo District scouts and was the Organizing Commissioner of the Colombo Camporee in 1999.

During his period at Sri Lanka Law College, he was actively involved in sports, various societies and social service. He was elected as the President of the Law Students' Union in 1990. During this period, Fernando organized many community development activities in the new settlements of the Mahaweli areas including, health camps, eye camps and other projects.

Fernando was the President of the Leo Club of Wellawatta West and was awarded the 100% President's Award by the Lions Clubs International in 1986. An Attorney-at-Law by profession, Fernando has served as the Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President of the Colombo Law Society for many years and was elected its President for the years 2007/2008, 2008/2009. He has also been the Assistant Secretary and Zonal Vice President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka and has chaired many committees and organized many events for the Bar. He was the Assistant Secretary of the Organisation of Professionals Associations.

Fernando has represented Sri Lanka at Scout Jamborees in Australia, UK, USA, France, Nederlands, New Zealand, Phillippines, Sweden and many other countries. As the Chairman of the Management Sub-Committee of the Asia Pacific Region, he has functioned as a resource person and speaker at many seminars and workshops in several countries.

Fernando is a recipient of several medals among which the Medal of Merit from Sri Lanka Scouts, Scouts Association of Malaysia, Korea Scouts Association and the Association of Top Achiever Scouts in recognition for his services to the Scout Movement, both locally and internationally.