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Saturday Sep 21, 2024
Monday, 22 December 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The new premises of the Alliance Francaise de Kotte (AFKO) at Keppetipola Mawatha in Colombo being inaugurated by Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena. Also present are the French Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Jean Paul Monchau, President of AFKO, Chandra Wickremasinghe, Cultural Counsellor of the French Embassy, Michel Treutenaere and AFKO Director Alexandre Martinez
Over the decades the Alliance Française has developed into a fully-fledged network equipped with the state-of-the-art teaching material (e-books, internet, media library facilities, French TV) and a teaching staff trained in France to cater to the needs of Sri Lankan students. The Alliance Française now offers internationally certified examinations like DELF, DALF (for those who eventually wish to pursue their higher studies in France).
From 1954 until 1987, the Alliance Française grew and knew different places before reaching to its own in 1987. It settled in a beautiful building at No 11, Barnes Place, Colombo 7, bought and renovated thanks to a major grant from the French government. In 2009, the history of the Alliance Française in Colombo knows a bleak moment because a split occurred within it. The Alliance Française, which has been forced to quit its premises, is now represented by the Alliance Française de Kotte situated at No 11, Keppetipola Mawatha in Colombo 5.
Students Day at the AF de Kotte
On the occasion of the anniversary of the signature of the first memorandum of association, on 17 December 1954, the Alliance Française de Kotte in Colombo organized a ‘Students Day’ with the participation of 200 students of French with singing, theater, poetry and dance.
Today, with 60 years of existence in Sri Lanka, the Alliance Française proudly fulfills its role as the ‘Maison de la France’ i.e. the cultural showcase of France.
It is also a place to share and exchange knowledge and meet people. The annual ‘French Spring Festival’ is one of those activities of dissemination and exchange of cultures in which both French and Sri Lankan artists, authors, academics and prominent actors are involved. These events testify to the constant contribution and dedication of the Alliance Française towards enhancing relations between Sri Lanka and France.
The Alliance Française de Kotte is the only institution in Colombo and in the entire Western Province of Sri Lanka which is registered under the International Alliance Francaise Foundation, which just celebrated its 130th anniversary.
The Alliance Française de Kotte is also the only official French language institute in Colombo recognised by the Embassy of France in Sri Lanka, along with AF de Kandy, AF de Matara/Galle and AF de Jaffna , and approved to issue official certificates of French language proficiency according to international standards.
Its educational and cultural impact of 60 years on generations of Sri Lankans has made the Alliance Française a very prominent and valuable cultural Centre in Sri Lanka. To learn more about the Alliance Francaise visit: www.alliancefrancaise.lk.
