News

As the 32nd Colombo Nalanda College Scout Troop marks its 60th anniversary, past scouts everywhere are warmly invited to the 3rd Nalanda Past Scouts Camp, and this time, the journey continues to Melbourne, Australia.

Held under the theme "Stronger Together, Braver Forever," this is the third camp in the worldwide series that began at Brownsea Island and continued in California. It promises three nights of fellowship, the outdoors, and the unmistakable camaraderie of old scouts reunited, a fitting way to celebrate six decades of the troop, from 1967 to 2027.

Camp details
Event: 3rd Nalanda Past Scouts Camp - "Stronger Together, Braver Forever"
Venue: Melbourne, Australia
Dates: 31 March to 3 April 2027 (3 nights)

Once all committed participants have registered, a dedicated "3rd Nalanda Past Scouts Camp Participants" WhatsApp group will be created to keep everyone connected in the lead-up to the camp.

Both junior and senior past scouts are encouraged to take part. Come and be part of an unforgettable gathering — and let us proudly celebrate sixty years of the 32nd Colombo Nalanda College Scout Troop together in Melbourne.

What began on the historic shores of Brownsea Island now stretches across the world. On 18 August 2025, following their first camp at the birthplace of Scouting, fourteen old scouts of Nalanda gathered once more, this time in California, in the United States, for the second in their growing series of reunions.

If the first camp was a return to where Scouting began, the second was a step forward: proof that the bonds forged in the troop are strong enough to carry a small band of brothers across continents and oceans to stand together again. Set against the wide and varied landscapes of California, the camp offered a fitting backdrop for fellowship, reflection, and the simple pleasures of life under canvas.

Together, the fourteen rekindled long friendships, shared the stories of the years between, and lived out the values they first learned as young scouts, service, brotherhood, and a love of the outdoors. For many, the journey itself was part of the reward, a reminder that the Nalanda scouting family now reaches far beyond the shores of Sri Lanka.

On 24 June 2023, Nalanda Old Scouts gathered on Brownsea Island for a camp unlike any other - a return to the very place where the worldwide Scouting movement began.

It was on this small island in Poole Harbour, off the southern coast of England, that Robert Baden-Powell pitched his experimental camp in 1907, an event now honoured as the birthplace of Scouting. More than a century later, the old scouts of Nalanda chose this historic ground to pitch their own tents, carrying the spirit of the movement back to where it first took root.

The gathering brought together old scouts from eight different countries, united by a shared past in the troop and a fellowship that neither distance nor the passing years have weakened. Around the campfire, stories were exchanged, old friendships rekindled, and the enduring values of Scouting, brotherhood, service, and a love of the outdoors — were lived out once more by those who first embraced them in their scouting days.

The camp marks the first in a planned series, the opening chapter of what the Association hopes will grow into a lasting tradition. For all who took part, it was at once a reunion and a beginning, a reminder that the scout's promise does not end with youth, and that the trail, once walked, always calls one back.

With the first camp behind them, plans are already turning to those ahead: further gatherings that will continue to bring old scouts together from across the globe and keep the flame first lit at Brownsea burning bright.

The Nalanda College Scouts troop secured the prestigious CP Jayawardana Trophy in 2022, a remarkable achievement that reflects the dedication, discipline, and team spirit of the scouts and their leaders. This victory stands as a testament to the strength of the scouting tradition at Nalanda College — a tradition that NOSA continues to nurture and support through the commitment of its members.

Distinguished Old Nalandian Major General Milinda Peiris, a President’s Scout and Past President of the Nalanda Old Scouts Association (NOSA), was appointed as the 20th Chief Commissioner of the Sri Lanka Scout Association with effect from 2 January 2020.

A distinguished military officer and Scout leader, Major General Peiris served as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army and later as the Vice Chancellor of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University. His appointment as the head of the Sri Lanka Scout Movement reflected a lifelong commitment to leadership, service, and the enduring values of Scouting.

His achievement remains a source of immense pride for the Nalanda Scout fraternity and the Nalanda Old Scouts Association, exemplifying how Scouting nurtures individuals to serve and lead the nation with distinction. As both a President’s Scout and a national leader, Major General Peiris stands as an inspiring example of the principles of duty, integrity, and selfless service that lie at the heart of the Scout Movement.

Distinguished Old Nalandian and active member of the Nalanda Old Scouts Association (NOSA), Mr. Merrille Goonetilleke, has been appointed as the Chief Commissioner of the Sri Lanka Scout Association.

A Chartered Electrical Engineer by profession, Mr. Goonetilleke is a graduate of the University of Moratuwa. His distinguished career, combined with his longstanding commitment to Scouting, has earned him widespread respect within the Scout Movement and beyond.

This prestigious appointment is a testament to his lifelong dedication to Scouting, exemplary leadership, and unwavering commitment to nurturing young people through the values and principles of the Scout Movement.