Project profile — National Languages Equality Advancement in Sri Lanka

• Sri Lanka (100.00%)

• Decentralisation and support to subnational government:
Decentralisation and support to subnational government (15112) (10.00%)
Democratic participation and civil society (15150) (25.00%)
Human rights (15160) (50.00%)
• Conflict Prevention And Resolution, Peace And Security: Civilian peace-building, conflict prevention and resolution (15220) (15.00%)

• Gender equality (significant objective)
• Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting) (not targeted)
• Participatory development and good governance (significant objective)
• Trade development (not targeted)
• Biodiversity (not targeted)
• Climate change mitigation (not targeted)
• Climate Change Adaptation (not targeted)
• Urban issues (not targeted)
• Desertification (not targeted)
• Children's issues (not targeted)
• Youth Issues (not targeted)
• Indigenous Issues (not targeted)
• Disability (not targeted)
• ICT as a tool for development (not targeted)

This project aims to reduce poverty and improve economic and social equality of Tamil and Sinhala speaking Sri Lankan women and men by promoting language rights. It contributes to national harmony for citizens of different linguistic backgrounds by improving access to gender-sensitive government services, such as health and police services, in their first language, and by enhancing the acceptance of the bilingual nature of their country. Project activities include: (1) assisting in the development and implementation of government department language plans based on the national strategy to implement the Official Languages Policy; (2) providing training to improve the bilingual language capacity and gender-sensitive communication skills of the civil service; (3) assisting in the development and implementation of a strategy and action plan for teaching Tamil and Sinhala as second languages; and (4) developing and managing a locally administered fund to support Sri Lankan civil society organizations in their efforts to promote language rights, national coexistence and dialogue.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) strengthened implementation of the Sri Lankan Official Languages Policy by government actors in a gender-sensitive manner; and (2) enhanced acceptance by Sri Lankan women and men of the cultural diversity and bilingual nature of their country.

Results achieved as of June 2024 include: (1) provided financial support to 32 civil society organizations to promote language rights and second language learning across 9 provinces, exceeding the initial target of 25 to 30 organizations; (2) provided technical assistance to enhance translation studies in 4 universities (Jaffna, Kelaniya, Sabaragamuwa, and Eastern). This technical assistance includes the establishment of a new Bachelor program in Translation Program at Eastern University and the development of an interpretation curriculum at the University of Jaffna; and (3) provided technical assistance to numerous government institutions across 5 provinces, including hospitals, police stations, and local administrations. This helped to support the development and implementation of language plans and institutionalize gender focal points as part of the Official Languages Policy.

• Proactive disclosure