India to set up language labs in Sri Lanka

As per the commitment made by the Government of India during the visit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to India in June 2010, which was reflected in the Joint Declaration issued on the occasion, the Government of India is undertaking a project to set up nine language labs in the nine provinces of Sri Lanka.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between India and Sri Lanka on September 13, 2011 for Setting up of a Three-Tier English Language Training System in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, the Government of India will provide equipment and teaching aids for setting up a language laboratory of 30 computer units in each of the nine provinces.

Tenders were floated for implementing the project through a two-bid process.

Following the conclusion of the tendering process, the Purchase Order has been issued to Metropolitan Office (Pvt) Ltd., Colombo, to set up the language labs envisaged in the project at a cost of Rs.84 million.

The project will be implemented under full grant assistance of the Government of India and will be completed in three months.

The project will help enhance the English training infrastructure in Sri Lanka, raise the general level of proficiency in English of various sections of society, impart training in the use of English and familiarise English teachers from schools, colleges and universities in Sri Lanka on recent trends in English language teaching and upgrade their skills.