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Outward Bound Sri Lanka

In 1952, a group of 16 boys between the ages of 14 and 18 began Outward Bound training at St. Thomas' College in the central hills of Sri Lanka, high up in a beautiful valley off the road that leads from Welimada to Gurutalawa. A British educator, Dr. Hayman, was Principal of St. Thomas and he used Kurt Hahn's ideas in founding the school.
The elderly men, who were the students on these first courses, have light in their eyes when they discuss the most compelling experience at Outward Bound in Sri Lanka, the expedition. Each boy carried a haversack with 20 pounds which included a saucepan, a kettle, two water bottles, one spoon, one knife, one tin-cutter, two compasses, two candles, two ground sheets, one tent, two tins of corned beef, two tins of fish, two tins of condensed milk, six loaves of bread, some tea and some sugar. They were sent off with their coordinates on a map and worked as a group to get there. Dr. Hayman would climb the highest mountain and watch their progress through a pair of binoculars.

Today, the Outward Bound Training of Sri Lanka (OBTSL) has a much different face, but still has its participants leaving with light in their eyes and a great sense of accomplishment. At the Dambulu Oya Outward Bound Center, professionals from companies in Sri Lanka come to test their capacity for leadership and teamwork on courses as long at 7 days and has short at 12 hours. "Trainees" as they are called at OBTSL, will learn and enhance the 'life skills' needed to cope in a fast moving and highly competitive work environment. OBTSL in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Business Development Center has trained over 2000 executives since 1996.

In addition, OBTSL continues to offer programs for youth utilizing varied natural resources in Sri Lanka such as the seaside, estuaries, river, lakes, mountains, and jungle.

What students say about Outward Bound Sri Lanka:

"The training programme was excellent and well organized. The trainers gave us a lot of confidence and encouragement to accomplish our tasks. We learnt a lot about teamwork and motivation and about our hidden talents. Our heartfelt thanks to all instructors."--Shyama, Textured Jersey Lanka (Pvt) Ltd

"Abilities and skills we never thought existed within us, as well as certain fears were overcome by this OBT programme. Skills are within us. It is at this learning centre we learnt to build and develop as well as identify these inner personalities."--Lasni, Slimline

"Thank you! Outward Bound Trust of Sri Lanka for a thoroughly enjoyable 3 days when we were helped to rediscover what we have in us, what it takes to overcome the many challenges we face together, whilst having a whole of a good time, all the way. Special thanks to our team of trainers for their total commitment and concern for us."--Kapila, ABN Amro Bank

"The programme was designed to test ones endurance to the maximum. It helped us overcome personal fears and realise that anything could be achieved if one had the will. As a team we learned to place absolute trust in one another and work together in achieving our goals.Last but not least, we would never have succeeded in the above without the training, expert guidance, encouragement and feeling of security, extended by the energetic, hardworking and dedicated team of instructors of the Outward Bound Training Centre."
--Harshani Perera, Seylan Bank

Thoughts from Instructors:

"The dominating factor in the programme was the commitment of the participants and their willingness to learn more through their interaction and sharing of ideas with their fellow participants as well as the trainer faculty."
--Upali Bandara - Group Instructor, OBTSL

"The participants were highly professional in their approach to the various activities. They were very enthusiastic about the programme and made use of it to fine tune their skills and competencies."
--Mr Cyril de Silva - Chief Instructor,OBTSL

CONTACT OUTWARD BOUND SRI LANKA:
Outward Bound Trust of Sri Lanka
P.O. Box No. 2096
03 Colombo
Sri Lanka
Bus: (94 1) 434952
Bus 2: (94 1) 437684-5.
Bus Fax: 94 (1) 541170
E-mail: jcratwat@sri.lanka.net
Web Page: http://www.lanka.net/obsl/