Wednesday Jan 15, 2025
Wednesday Jan 15, 2025
Saturday, 11 January 2025 00:22 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
In a historic step toward promoting Hindi education in Sri Lanka, the country’s first certificate course in Hindi through open and distance learning was launched yesterday.
The launch took place during the Bharat-Sri Lanka Hindi Sammelan, organised by the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC), the cultural arm of the High Commission of India in Colombo, to mark the 50th anniversary celebrations of World Hindi Day.
The certificate course, a collaborative initiative between the Open University of Sri Lanka and the SVCC, aims to make Hindi learning more accessible nationwide through the University’s Study Centres. The program reflects the increasing demand for Hindi as an international language and marks a new milestone in academic cooperation between India and Sri Lanka.
The course was launched by Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha, Education and Higher Education Deputy Minister Dr. Madhura Seneviratne, University Grants Commission Sri Lanka Chairman Prof. Kapila Seneviratne and Open University of Sri Lanka Vice Chancellor Prof. P.M.C. Thilakarathne.
The Bharat-Sri Lanka Hindi Sammelan was presided over by Education and Higher Education Deputy Minister Dr. Seneviratne, as the Chief Guest, alongside High Commissioner.
In his remarks, Deputy Minister emphasised Hindi language as a “communication bridge” between the two countries. He also lauded the role of music and entertainment industry of India in popularising the language across the world.
The Hindi Sammelan saw over 400 scholars, teachers, and students from India, Sri Lanka and Nepal participating. The day-long event included three plenary sessions with 25 distinguished speakers, a poetry recital, cultural performances celebrating shared heritage, and an open forum on the role of Hindi in modern education. The celebrations concluded with the screening of the Bollywood film English Vinglish, marking the finale of the Indian Film Fest 2025.
World Hindi Day, observed annually on 10 January, commemorates the language’s global recognition when Hindi was first spoken at the United Nations General Assembly in 1949.
In Sri Lanka, Hindi is now taught in 88 schools and nine public universities, reflecting its growing popularity. The launch of the Hindi certificate course signifies a milestone in promoting Hindi learning in Sri Lanka, creating opportunities for linguistic exchange and strengthening ties between the two nations.
