Language proficiency should be made compulsory for public sector

28 November 2019 05:35 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 7 Bookmark

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Proficiency in at least two languages should be made mandatory and considered as a qualification when recruiting new state employees, Public Administration and Home Affairs State Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said today.

He expressed these views to the media after he assumed duties as the State Minister for Public Administration and Home Affairs at the ministry today.

“It is a matter of concern that a majority of state employees are unable to speak at least in two languages fluently. This situation has resulted in chaos in the public sector and led to some serious issues,” the State Minister said.

“The state employees who are currently in service should also be able to manage with at least Tamil and English so that it would be convenient to communicate with their clients,” he added.

He said there was an existing programme to improve the language skills of the current state employees but that system should be upgraded. (Sheain Fernandopulle)

Comments - 7

Anmanpan Thursday, 28 November 2019 06:53 PM

Aiyo, this is the result of Banda and his policies and which brought to power.

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Champa Thursday, 28 November 2019 07:35 PM

This is not fair as it will cater only for a section of the society who are proficient in English. Besides, English as a subject is taught only upto O/Levels while Tamil is not taught at all. Minister may not be aware, there was a second language proficiency exam held by the Examinations Department sometime ago. Government employees who had credit passes for English, Sinhala or Tamil or who had passed the government's language proficiency exam were given an incentive.

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Chandare Friday, 29 November 2019 05:07 AM

He studied in Royal College and received his degree in La Trobe in Australia (not In Sri Lanaka). This is about him. He even has not a degree from SL University (according to Wikipedia)

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Lanka peiris Thursday, 28 November 2019 08:32 PM

All minority communities in foreign countries speak the language of the majority community. You can't speak in Tamil or Sinhala in the UK because the national language is English! Scottish and welsh people are there but they have to speak English. The tail does not wag the dog.

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Hadeniya Friday, 29 November 2019 04:26 AM

It is commendable that even after decades of single language education, the importance of proficiency in English and Tamil is being recognized. How many Secretaries of Ministries can participate and contribute effectively to a discussion on important areas of their responsibility with an English speaking group? And what about speaking to a Tamil audience in the North and East?

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Seyed Niyaz Abdeen Friday, 29 November 2019 06:17 AM

Sri Lanka is a dependent country and not a self-sufficient country. English is an internationally recognized link language and must be introduced as a compulsory second language to Sinhala and/or Tamil languages. Anyone proficient in all three languages must certainly be given an incentive

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Axe Friday, 29 November 2019 08:16 AM

Yeah, if we listen to your either spoken language, you should start back from kindergarten

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