President’s proposal to teach Chinese, Hindi in schools SJB MPs view as rational approach; Marikkar sceptical

By Yohan Perera  

Opposition MPs seem to be holding different ideas on the recent remarks made by President Ranil Wickremesinghe that Sri Lankan children will have to learn Hindi and Chinese in the future.

An MP who represents one of the parties which backs the SJB told 

Daily Mirror that the remark made by the President correctly reflected his policy of thinking out of the box.

“The President is correct in what he said about the children having to learn Hindi and Chinese in the future. It reflects his out-of-the-box thinking,” the MP who did not wish to be named said.

“However the issue is the implementation. It is not clear whether there are enough people to back him on implementing various projects which go in line with out-of-the-box thinking,” he added.

SJB MP  S. M. Marikar on Thursday said the President’s remark was an indication that national assets were to be sold to China and India.“The remark made by the President at Anula Vidyalaya Prize giving is grave as the hidden message is that an effort is made to sell assets to China and India. Earlier foreign investors came to Sri Lanka making offers but now the opposite is happening as Government is offering assets to foreign investors,” he told a briefing on Thursday

MP Eran Wickramaratne, who also commented said the President’s statement was rational.“The World economy is growing and India and China are developing as giant economies while Asia becoming a Centre where development is concerned. Therefore Sri Lankan children who learn Chinese and Hindi languages will

have an advantage in the given circumstances. However, learning English should also be given prominence.
MP Patali Champika Ranawaka also said the comment made by President is correct. “Chinese is a Sinic core language. Languages spoken in several countries in the Asian region are connected to Mandarin and therefore it is a Sinic core language. China is also a giant economy. Therefore learning the Chinese language will help from an economic point of view as well. India is also close to Sri Lanka and the world’s 4th largest economy.

“Besides India has planned to develop a search engine similar to Google. Therefore Sri Lankans will have to learn Hindi as well. In that context President Wickremesinghe was correct. “Late Singaporean Prime Minister also made a similar comment years ago,” he said.