Press Releases
US Embassy joins hands with Cities of Excellence Initiative to train English teachers from different parts of Sri Lanka
June 08, 2009, Colombo: After successful completion of a three - week training program, thirty English teachers from the districts of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Jaffna and Batticaloa received their certificates on May 29, 2009 . This pilot program on English teacher training is a component of the Government of Sri Lanka’s Cities of Excellence Initiative. The Ministry of Education with the assistance of the Presidential Task Force on English and IT implemented the project. It was coordinated by the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) and supported by the US Embassy, Colombo and the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO. The United States Embassy provided the trainers -- Mr. Daniel Ringold and Ms. Frances Westbrook—in addition to financial assistance.
Hon. V. Anandasangaree was the Chief Guest at the certificate awarding ceremony, which was held at the Sovereign Hotel in Rajagiriya. Dr. Sunimal Fernando, Presidential Advisor and Coordinator, Presidential Task Force on English and IT, Mr. C.S. Poolokasingham, Deputy Secretary General of SCOPP, Mr. Jeff Anderson, Director – Press & Cultural Affairs at the US Embassy, Mr. Prithiviraj Perera, Secretary General of the Sri Lanka National Commission of UNESCO and Mr. Anton Nallathamby of the Asia Foundation were the other distinguished guests.
While congratulating the teachers on their completion of a successful program the Hon. Anandasangaree commended the peace-building aspects of the government program, referring to ventures of this nature as opportunities for Tamil people to learn more about the Sinhalese, and vice versa. He said, “I hope the training you had will help you to mold decent citizens in those parts of the country where you live.”
Dr. Sunimal Fernando shared his aspirations of following-up the project with reciprocal exchanges of teachers between the north and south. Referring to His Excellency the President’s vision Dr. Fernando also stressed the importance -- for members of Sinhalese and Tamil communities -- of relating first to each other in their own languages, and using English to “relate to the outside world, to access knowledge and technology.”
Referring to the participant teachers as the “best resource to carry the message of peace to younger and future generations” Mr. C.S. Poolokasingham said that this project would play a significant role in bridging the existing gaps between the communities also providing a stepping stone for greater cultural interaction essential in developing sustainable peace in Sri Lanka.
Mr. Prithiviraj Perera spoke of the value of peace, and of “Ahimsa” (non-violence) -- a concept propounded by Lord Buddha, Jesus, and Mahatma Gandhi -- which Sri Lankans are now in a unique position to practice with each other.
Speaking for the US Embassy Mr. Jeff Anderson thanked the teachers and reiterated the Embassy’s good-wishes and continued support. He said, “Though this particular session has reached its completion, we don’t see it as an end but a beginning; and we at the US Embassy are eager to participate in the next steps of the program.”
Presenting the vote of thanks a teacher from Jaffna expressed his appreciation for the excellent training provided. He mentioned that they were not only the recipients of valuable knowledge and skills in terms of teaching English, but proud partners of the well-achieved wider goals of the program -- those for building peace and mutual understanding.