Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya celebrated the Sri Lanka Girl Scouts Association’s Presidential Award Ceremony, emphasizing that empowering young girls with leadership and resilience is vital for the nation’s future. With 306 top awards handed out, the event showcased the Girl Scouts as a cornerstone of educational and social transformation.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that building women’s leadership in modern society is vital and the Sri Lanka Girl Scouts Association has the capacity to help develop such leadership.
She made this statement while addressing the Presidential Girl Scout Awards ceremony held at Temple Trees. The event was organized by the Sri Lanka Girl Scouts Association, a member of the world’s largest voluntary women’s organization.
A total of 306 scouts received the prestigious Presidential Girl Scout Award, the highest honor given by the movement. Additionally, 18 scouts were awarded the Prime Minister Girl Scout Award in recognition of their outstanding contributions and development.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Prime Minister said she was honored to participate in an event that celebrated the strength, resilience, and leadership potential of young Sri Lankan girls. She noted that the Girl Scouts Movement, which began in 1917 at the Girls’ High School in Kandy, has now grown across the island, shaping girls into responsible, community-minded leaders from as early as age eight.
She emphasized the need for a generation of strong young girls who can lead the nation in future. The Prime Minister also recognized that behind every awardee is a network of parents, teachers, and mentors who played a crucial role in shaping their success.
Addressing the audience not just as Prime Minister but as a former Girl Scout herself, Harini shared how her experiences in the movement guided her personal journey. She said the Girl Scouts not only build resilience in girls but foster a mindset geared toward nation-building and compassionate leadership.
She added that her government’s education reforms aim to produce such well-rounded individuals, children with both leadership and empathy.
Present at the occasion were Deputy Minister of Defense Major General Aruna Jayasuriya, Chairperson of the Baladakshika Association Swarnika Pitigala, Chief Commissioner Dr. Kushantha Herath, along with former Chairpersons, former Commissioners, officials from the Ministry of Education, Girl Scout District Commissioners, parents, and award recipients.
The Prime Minister concluded by reaffirming the importance of movements like the Girl Scouts in producing the leaders that Sri Lanka urgently needs today.
