The Foreign Secretary mentioned the high human development indicators in Sri Lanka and said she felt that there was much for India to learn from Sri Lanka. In this sense, relationship between India and Sri Lanka was one of “give and take”, quoting the Foreign Secretary, the Hindu reported.

The Foreign Secretary made these statements after formally inaugurating the Sri Lanka- India Centre for English Language Training (SLICELT) in Peradeniya on Sunday (07 March).

She added that India was happy to be involved in an initiative that aimed at developing “tools of empowerment” and stated that India was interested in a more intensive economic cooperation that led to a development of a balanced relationship between the two countries, the Hindu reported.

Relations between Sri Lanka and India dating back to time immemorial would be further strengthened by the SLICELT, quoting the Foreign Secretary, the Island reported.

Secretary to the President, Lalith Weeratunga said it was the President Rajapaksa’s concept to make English accessible as a life skill to every nook and corner of the country on the basis of equality. Facilities to learn English should be freely available for one and all for the development of the country, he said. He stressed that Sri Lanka has to use modern technology to keep abreast with the rest of the world.

President's Secretary added that English Teaching Centre for Graduate to acquire proficiency in English would be set up and thanked the Indian Government for this invaluable wealth given to Sri Lanka.

Senior Presidential Advisor and SLICELT program Co-ordinator, Sunimal Fernando said President Mahinda Rajapaksa has recognised the importance of teaching English as a life skill to communicate with the outside world to strengthen development, the Daily News reported.

Under the MoU, singed by the two countries in September on the establishment of SLICELT, India has appointed the English and Foreign Language University (EFLU), Hyderabad as the Technical Consultant for the Project and funded the deputation of two experts from EFLU for a period of two years to work at SLICELT. In addition, a digital language laboratory has also been set up with India’s assistance. Earlier in 2008 and 2009, India sent two batches of 40 English Language Master Teacher Trainers each from Sri Lanka for training at the EFLU under India’s International Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Scheme.

The SLICELT has been set up to serve as a focal point for the teaching of English language and is part of the Sri Lankan Presidential Initiative of developing “English as A Life Skill” in Sri Lanka.

It will take the lead in upgrading the skills of the 400 strong cadre of English Language Master Trainers trained and developed under the Presidential Initiative to deliver Spoken English Teaching Skills to the 22,000 English teachers in government schools.

The SCICELT will also provide technical assistance to the Commissioner General of Examinations to develop Spoken English Testing Tools to be introduced at GCE Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations in 2011 and School Based Assessment (SBA) Tools for evaluating Spoken English Skills from grade 6 onwards.

It will provide technical assistance to the National Institute of Education (NIE) in developing English Syllabi, Curricula, Course Books and Teacher Guides placing emphasis on Listening and Speaking Skills in keeping with the objectives of the Presidential Initiative on ‘English as a Life Skill’. It will also assist the Education Publications Division (EPD) of the Ministry in the publication of state-of-the-art course books on Spoken English for schools, the Hindu reported.