Over 100 Language Training Centres to be set up

by Ananda Kannangara

The Public Administration Ministry will set up over 100 Language Training Centres in all provinces this year to improve the Sinhala, Tamil and English Language skills of over 1.4 million public servants.

It will be conducted by the Public Administration Ministry in collaboration with the National Languages and Social Integration Ministry, Divisional Secretariats and other local authorities. According to Ministry reports, some Sinhala speaking public servants face difficulties when attending to official matters with Tamils, while Tamil-speaking pubic servants also face similar difficulties.

Public Administration Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne told the Sunday Observer that public servants are bound to perform duties in any part of the country and, therefore, learning all three languages is necessary when handling official matters with people of all ethnic groups. He said language is important in our culture. Learning languages will also help build bridges of friendships among communities.

Minister Seneviratne said the public faces many difficulties when they visit local authorities and Government offices since most public servants communicate only in their mother tongue.

This problem could be resolved to a great extent by setting up Language Training Centres in all provinces, he said.