Towards that, the scouts movement does a great deal and it will also help strengthen national reconciliation by eliminating hatred and building peace and co-existence among communities, he said.

Children of both the south and the north have the same blood in their veins, and they should get together to build the country, said the president.

Around 10,000 local and foreign scouts are participating in the jamboree on the theme friendship and understanding.

Newly-appointed northern province governor Reginald Cooray and chief minister C.V. Vigneswaran too, participated in the inaugural ceremony.

Making a speech, Vigneswaran said once Tamils were given their due rights as per the constitution, marriages among the communities could take place.

He said his two sons too, were married to Sinhalese.

Cooray has stressed the need for marriages among the communities, when taking office recently.

The 100th anniversary of the presence of the scouts movement in Jaffna too, will be marked concurrently.

Prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will be the chief guest at the closing ceremony of the jamboree.