The National Integration, Official Language, Social Progress and Hindu Religious Affairs Ministry will hold a number of programmes to mark the Official Languages Day which falls today (July 1).
A number of programmes have been planned to be held around the country for a week beginning from today. The main event will be held at the BMICH today under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena under the directive of National Integration,Official Language, Social Progress and Hindu Religious Affairs Minister Mano Ganeshan.The President will declare the Official Languages Day at this ceremony.
Colombo University’s Prof. Sandagomi Coperahewa will deliver the key note address in Sinhala while Prof.N Selvakumaran will deliver the keynote in Tamil.
The inaugural day programme themed ‘Flourish Language - Cherish Hearts’ will include introduce a software and an App. A software for public name boards will also be launched at this ceremony.
Participants at this ceremony will be educated on the language audit report.
The Ministry has also declared a week to mark the Official Languages Day beginning from today, A number of programmes have also been planned during this week.
Minister Mano Ganeshan will participate in a ceremony at Isipathana College on July 2 to educate the students on the official languages policy. The Commissioner General of Official Languages will deliver a speech on “Is it difficult to learn Tamil?”.
Minister Mano Ganeshan will distribute certificates to the students who won the essay and speech contests at this ceremony.
The third day programme aimed at public servants will be held on July 3 where Sabaragamuwa Governor Dr. Dhamma Dissanayake will deliver the key note speech. A booklet on the official languages policy and related laws compiled by the Ministry will be distributed among the public servants by Canadian High Commissioner David McKinnon at this ceremony.
A number of programs have been planned on the 4th and 5th days too.
The final day celebrations will be coordinated in partnership with strengthening reconciliation process programme (SRP) co funded by the European Union and the German Federal Foreign Office. This programme is jointly implemented by Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusmmenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the British Council of Sri Lanka.
(Daily News)