The Record
Centenary 2004 (1904-2004) - 100 Golden Years
(source: 'The Record', Centenary Issue 2004)
'The Automobile Association of Ceylon is delighted to have celebrated its 100 birthday in 2004. The A.A.C. is proud of its past, its present and has faith in its future. When we celebrate historic occasions of this nature we must remember the founding fathers, the present and past Office Bearers and all who in some way contributed to the success of the Association. Special pride of place should go to the Founder Harold North who, on his own initiative, inserted an advertisement in the local press on the 19thAugust 1904, calling all motorists to form a new Association and the response was excellent. He realized the urgent need for Motorists to get together and form an Association, which will be a strong "Opinion Leader" in all things regarding motoring!
It is interesting that he selected Kandy, the historic capital of the Hill Country, to commence operations! With a hundred Founder Members, Mr. North on the 12th November 1904 formed the Automobile Club of Ceylon, which subsequently became the Automobile Association of Ceylon. The venue was the famous Queens Hotel.
The Association has come a long way since its early beginnings and has at all times promoted the Welfare of Motorists to its utmost ability and has been particularly active in co-operation with the various Government Ministries and Departments concerned, in connection with road improvement, the provision of danger and other warning signs and flood information.
General Traffic problems have been given most careful attention and educative measures on the principles of 'Safety First' have been actively supported. The Association has a proven track record and today holds "Pride of Place" in the Motoring World and is affiliated to leading Organizations in the world, in particular the AIT (Alliance Internationale de Tourisme) with Headquarters in Switzerland and founded in 1898. The Engineering Division and its Road Patrols have served generations of Motorists islandwide and continue to do so today. One remembers the legendary Lamahewa who was stationed at the Ramboda Pass. In recent issues of "The Record" we have highlighted the importance of road safety as a priority. In this Centenary issue of "The Record", we are publishing several articles from the earlier issues of "The Record", which will help readers to understand a bit of the AAC History.
Let us in this Centenary Year re-dedicate ourselves to the development of Transport and Motoring in general, road safety and services to the public of Sri Lanka. May the Automobile Association of Ceylon prosper and benefit the Motoring Public of Sri Lanka in the years to come.
The Centenary Issue is for the period November/December 2004
"The Present and the Future inevitably grow out of the Past and bear its stamp, and to forget this is to build without foundations and to cut off the roots of National Growth!"- Jawaharlal Nehru- Brian E. Elias, Sectional Chairman, Magazine & Road Safety.
