Dumfries Provost’s new honour
Maureen Johnstone will be meeting with the mayor of the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka
Maureen Johnstone spent more than 20 years doing her bit as a community councillor with Tinwald Parish.
Little did she know that she’d end up doing diplomatic duties for the whole of Dumfries and Galloway as the region welcomed a VIP international guest this week.
The mayor of the city of Kandy in Sri Lanka travelled 5,600 miles to Dumfries to view the new fountain – and to be greeted by some locals and his civic counterpart, the Provost of Dumfries.
Mrs Johnstone was appointed as our new provost five months ago, having been newly-elected as a councillor for the Lochar ward at the Dumfries and Galloway Council elections in May last year.
“Before becoming a councillor, I was a member of Tinwald Parish Community Council for 21 years.
“I’ve always been passionate about rural issues and contributing to the community.
“It really has been an honour to become provost, I’ve been pleased to take on the role.
“I recently attended the Guid Nychburris event in Dumfries and have attended various functions as provost.
“I’m looking forward to meeting the Mayor of Kandy in Sri Lanka and welcoming him to Dumfries. He’s staying with a local family and will be here to visit the town fountain on August 2.
“Apparently our fountain is similar to one they have, and so he’s come to view it and have a tour around Dumfries.”
The landmark Dumfries town centre fountain was officially unveiled in its new full glory in June following an extensive, six-figure restoration project.
And there is special interest from across the globe because, thanks to the Dumfries Fountain Project, it has been twinned with a strikingly-similar fountain in Sri Lanka.
In May this year, retired local school teachers Nick and Jill Riley, who were holidaying in Sri Lanka, met with the Mayor of Kandy, Mr Kesera Senanayake. They hand-delivered a letter on behalf of The Dumfries Fountain Project in recognition of the twin fountains.
Mayor Senanayake then sent a video message, which was posted on the Dumfries Fountain Facebook page, saying: “It gives me great pleasure to send the greetings of the city of Kandy to the people of Dumfries in Scotland.”
The mayor visited Dumfries this week to visit the fountain on Wednesday and strengthen the links between Kandy and Dumfries.
The 140-year-old Dumfries fountain was one of six similar ones made at the Sun Foundry in Glasgow.
They went around the world – including Australia, Ireland and the Channel Islands – but the water feature in Kandy is most strikingly similar to the Dumfries fountain.