Lake View Park International Scout Centre

In 1913, six years after Robert Baden-Powell introduced scouting to the world, scouting arrived at Dharmaraja College. The 1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scout Group is the second Scout Troop in Ceylon and the 1st group in Kandy District founded by late Mr. John Henry De Saram under the Principalship of late Mr.K.F. Billimoria.[5][6][7][8]

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.

As part of centenary celebration, 1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scout group established a Guinness world record by creating the world largest neckerchief measures 53.7 m x 37.1 m x 37.1 m (176 ft 2.4 in x 121 ft 8.4 in x 121 ft 8.4 in) and the largest woggle measures 1.03 m (3 ft 4.55 in) in diameter and 1 m (3 ft 3.37 in) in height on 20 February 2014.[9][10]

• 1913 – 1931    Mr. J.H.De Seram
• 1931 – 1934    Mr. J.N.Thomas
• 1934 – 1967    Mr. B.A.S.Wimalachandra
• 1967 – 1970    Mr. S.Rajakaruna
• 1970 – 1978    Mr. B.N.B.Dolapihilla
• 1978 – 1993    Mr. M.B.Weerasekara
• 1993 – 2007    Mr. S.K.P.Mataraarachchi
• 2007 – 2008    Mr. S.M.Keerthiratne
• 2008 – 2009    Mr. S.K.B.Weerakoon
• 2009 – 2015    Mr. M.Wijesiriwardhane
• 2015 – 2017    Mr. R.M.S.Rathnayake
• 2017 – Present    Mr. I.B.Pulasinghe

Dharmaraja scouts climbed the Himalaya mountains seven times from 1985 to 2007.[11] [12] [13] [14]

In 2017, team of 12 scouts from Dhramraja Scout Group conquered the K2, the second highest peak in the world at 8,611 m (28,251 ft). This is the first time that a Sri Lankan Scout Group takes part in climbing the K2. [15]

The 1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scout Group's 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 30 September 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.

From 1993 up to 2006, Dharmaraja Scouts won the Island Merit Flag for being the Best Scout Group in Sri Lanka, consecutively.[16]

When Dharmaraja College celebrated the Centenary year in 1987 (1887–1987),[20] 1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scout Group and the Old Rajans Scout Association organized the Dharmaraja Centenary JIM 1987 from 18 to 22 February 1987. It was also the 75th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Scout Association. It consisted of Cub Scouts, Scouts, Rovers and Scout Leaders totalling to 1000, which makes it one of the largest in the whole world.[21]

Then President of Sri Lanka Mr. J. R. Jayewardene was the chief guest at the ‘Centenary JIM’, who also paid tribute to the then principal A. P. Gunaratna and then Group Scout Leader Bandara Weerasekera and the organizers for conducting a Jamboree of exceptional standard.[18]

The name JIM stands for Jamboree Indaba Moot.

Jamboree

Jamboree was a name given by Baden Powell to the first International gathering of Scouts at Olympia, London, in 1920. When asked, "Why Jamboree?" Baden Powell replied: "What else would you call it?"

Indaba

a Zulu word, means gathering of chiefs The first World Scout Indaba was held at Gilwell Park, in Essex, the training ground for Scout Leaders, in 1952.

Moot

Moot was again suggested by Baden Powell as a gathering for Rover Scouts. It comes from the old English meaning gathering of young men for discussion concerning the affairs of the community.

1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scout Group celebrated 80 years of scouting with DESAI (Dharmaraja 80th Scout Anniversary International) Jamborette from 18 to 22 February 1994. DESAI organized jointly by the 1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scout Group and Old Rajans Scout Association.[19]

Dharmaraja College celebrated its 110th Anniversary in 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" from 18 to 22 February 1997. It was the first adventure program to be held in Sri Lanka with, Water Activities, Hiking, and Ground Activities.[19]

1st Kandy Dharamaraja Scout Group together with Old Rajans Scout Association organized the Rajans Millennium Jamboree from 18 to 22 February 2000, to commemorate the dawn of the new millennium and to celebrate the winning of Island Merit flag for best Scout Group in Sri Lanka for consecutive years from 1996.[19]

The 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" from 14 to 20 August 2003.[22] This was the 5th International Scout Program to be organized and held at the Lake View Park International Scout Centre.

1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scout Group celebrated its 95th anniversary in 2008 by organizing an adventure and leadership program named "RANSAI - RAjans Nintyfifth Scout Anniversary International - 2008" from 26 to 30 December 2008.[19][23]

RISGO CENTENNIAL (Rajans International Scout Gathering Of Centennial ) 2013 (Sinhala: 'රිස්ගෝ – සියවස් සැමරුම් ජාත්යන්තර බාලදක්ෂ එකමුතුව), was an International Scout Jamboree to mark the Centenary Celebrations of 1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scout Group (1913–2013) of Dharmaraja College, Kandy, Sri Lanka from 18 to 22 February 2013.[24][25][26]

The event included many scouting activities,[27][28] and was open to all members of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM). This include Cub Scouts, Scouts, Rovers, Girl Scouts and Girl Guides, Leaders and Old Scouts from all around the world.[25][29] [30] [31] [32] [33] It was organized as a joint venture by 1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scout Group & Old Rajans Scouts Association. The Chief Scout, the Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa, (President of Sri Lanka) attended.[34]

CENtenary of RAjan Cubs 2017 is the cub scouts activity camp held on 7–8 October 2017 to celebrate centenary cub scouting at 1st Kandy Scout group. 1300 cub scouts representing 25 scout districts spent two days at the Lake View Park International Scout Centre and experienced more than 30 special activities and enjoyed other events specifically organized for cubs scouts aged 7 to 10. Mr. Meril Gunathilake, incumbent Chief Scout Commissioner of Sri Lanka Scout Association declared opened the CENRAC on a colorful opening ceremony while, General Officer Commanding of 11th Division of Sri Lanka Army, Major General Nishshanka Ranawana graced the closing ceremony as the chief guest of the two day event.

During the closing ceremony, the Old Rajans Scout Association declared former Group Scout Master Mr. Bandara Weerasekara as the "Impeza of the Lakeview" in honor of his 50 years continues scout service.