Council of Legal Education stands by decision to conduct law college examinations only in English: Minister

19 October 2022 02:33 pm - 26 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Council of Legal Education headed by the Chief Justice had recommended that the decision to conduct law college examinations only in English should be implemented without any change, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe informed Parliament today.

He told Parliament that however, having reconsidered the mixed opinions by the government and opposition MPs of the decision, he would discuss it further with the Cheif Justice and inform the House of the final decision.

The Minister made this remark in response to a question raised by SJB MP Hesha Vithanage as to what stance had the government had taken on the concerns raised by the students on making law college examination only in English.

Former Justice Minister Ali Sabri said the decision was taken to conduct law college examinations only in English language after considering the requests of students to do so.

He said some students insisted that law college examinations should be held in English to compete with global requirements and to prevent lawyers of two categories such as English speaking and non-English speaking lawyers being produced by the law college.

Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella said they were not against the move but there should be a transitional period to implement the decision. "It is the government in 1957 that ruined the English eduction in Sri Lanka. The students should not pay the price for that," he said.

Parliamentarians Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and Chandima Weerakkody highlighted the need to go ahead with the decision as it was important for students to pass out lawyers with English language competence.

Former Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem said he, as a student came from a rural area, opined that students should be given the opportunity to face the examinations in their mother tongue.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said English language should be promoted from the pre-school and stressed the need to give priority to teaching English at school level. (Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)

Comments - 26

Iwazaru Wednesday, 19 October 2022 02:44 PM

I have heard this clown express himself in English and it was lucky the queen had passed away.

Anil Fernando Wednesday, 19 October 2022 03:01 PM

Medical , Chartered accountancy and Engineering finals are held in English. Why not Law ?

priyantha77 Wednesday, 19 October 2022 03:10 PM

very good. make all high education only in English medium

gamini Wednesday, 19 October 2022 03:20 PM

First make it compulsory that a Minister should be able to speak in English- some hold on to citizenship of western countries with any ability to speak English

sunil Wednesday, 19 October 2022 03:21 PM

SL is the only country where the Law course is conducted in English, but students are allowed to sit for exams in any other language-what a paradise

Chris Wednesday, 19 October 2022 07:59 PM

No wonder most lawyers cannot speak proper English.! Some sit in AC rooms with the answers provided.

BuffaloaCitizen Wednesday, 19 October 2022 03:32 PM

Certainly yes, the judiciary has already become a yakko place and making the judicial exam in Sinhala will be nail in the coffin for those decent honest lawyers.

Ram Wednesday, 19 October 2022 03:46 PM

Transitional period is important as suggested by Kiriella. If English is made compulsory from Year 6 and a simple pass at OL to do higher studies the student enthusiasm will develop. For the present students can be given the option to sit in any language and gradually English to be introduced

Chris Wednesday, 19 October 2022 04:04 PM

The English spoken by most lawyers is appealing. I don't know how on earth they even do their exams. Same goes for the doctors, engineers, and accountants.! Lawyers practice English law. At least learn the damn language properly.

Gihan Wednesday, 19 October 2022 04:31 PM

Good position. We do not want to dilute our professionals marketability internationally, but rather enhance it for the sake of those professionals. Just imagine if every child had an opportunity to educate themselves in English over the past 70 years, where would our people have been compared to our regional peers. Sadly cheap politics got n the way. We as a nation are all the poorer for it.

Nandasena R Wednesday, 19 October 2022 04:57 PM

It is time the government of SL asserted the use of international in the legal and other professions so that our future generation does not get into a frog in the well policy due to language barrier. Given this, can the minister kindly explain how a distilled fool like Namal Rajapakse passed this exam some years ago?

Martin Milton Wednesday, 19 October 2022 07:05 PM

This is a very good idea as any Lawyer needs to be fully and well conversant in English. MM

rbh Wednesday, 19 October 2022 07:10 PM

We think English is needed for interaction globally China japan etc. don’t think that way and without English they are competing with superpower

Oscar perera Wednesday, 19 October 2022 07:55 PM

BEFORE SETTING THE EYES ON LAW COLLEGE MEDIUM, NEED TO ENSURE THAT ALL MEN AND WOMEN ENTERING SRI LANKA POLITICS AND STEPPING FOOT TO PARLIAMENT SHOULD ALSO BE COMPETENT IN ENGLISH TO TALK WITH FOREING DELEGATES. SOME CANT SPEAK ENGLISH, WHAT A SHAME! SHAME.

Hoping to retire in few years Wednesday, 19 October 2022 08:06 PM

This was brought up by the no-good nationalist race supremacist Weerawansa, him Gammanpila and the Nanayakara are the worst backward MPs in the parliament. 99% plus of all legal matters are done in English. There are interpreters in the courts for persons who want to advocate in Sinhala and Tamil, but course the quality of that will be so-so. To lose case is to have lawyer speak in language needing interpreter. This is another disgraceful sly attempt by Weerawansa to push school student opportunities to do more in English since he so against English as an education medium.

Vajira Jayawardena Wednesday, 19 October 2022 08:20 PM

Not only the final exams, systematic changes from the preliminary level. Otherwise its hard. Its important to learn from either in English or French. The world is moving in that direction. I know how I suffered because of the language barrier. The first language you are learning much important than anything else. However, we should not forget about Sinhala or Tamil.

Dee Wednesday, 19 October 2022 10:07 PM

If we could go back to to 1956 and change some decisions, our country would have been a much better place to be!

Punchi Thursday, 20 October 2022 12:33 AM

Initially all subjects were taught in Malay. Owing to its place of importance in the new knowledge economy, English, as a second language, continues to be a compulsory subject taught at all levels in every Malaysian school. On top of that, the subjects of mathematics and science are being taught in English in schools at all levels. This is why Malaysia is prosperous and we in our failed paradise with our Suhabasha education only good for sending maids and manual construction workers to work in Malaysia and elsewhere

L Jaya Thursday, 20 October 2022 01:29 AM

I doubt even the minister can talk fluently in English, although he was advocating English only. The changes must not be abrupt but should be piecewise. Good example is introduction to organic fertiliser. All these ministers should be aware that English for law is on its own unlike Medicine, Engineering or Business. Need a strong vocabulary and art of writing reports. This doesn't mean not to do in English but it is an essential part of education. As opposition leader said 1956 policy of SWRD ruined the English and not taken any steps to improve at the beginning, primary and secondary schools. There are groups that they want in swabasha for political gains. SL politicians worked throughout 75 yrs for political gains and not for the country. Need systematic, piecewise change so that to prevent students dropping off.

Paranasal Gonsinham Thursday, 20 October 2022 01:38 AM

You are the most untrustworthy man in the country!! Once you to talk that you have saved Rajapassa clan!! Now? again the Just Minister? How wonderful? No progress of the 22A? How much do you send a month from public funds? House car drive allowances office. People are struggling to eat at least twice a day!!

dot Thursday, 20 October 2022 03:53 AM

I am not so concerned about the learning of law and the language .But please conduct the procedure of the court in a language understood by those who seek redress before the law , so that they understand their rights and entitlements in the language of the country .or are we going back to the colonial days of the tholka mudali who was more intimating than even the Judge who spoke in English ..

Brian Thomas Thursday, 20 October 2022 08:51 AM

Please give all investors money they are not letting me be.... You speak to that tamil boy aswell and distribute the cash along with him..

BuffaloaCitizen Thursday, 20 October 2022 10:15 AM

We should continue with "Sinhala Only" policy, because it will create more Sinhalese jobs in the "House Maid" and "Three Wheel Driver" sector. In the end, like the present Parliament, most of the Ministers are competent and fit for driving 3-wheelers but not for leading a country. Let minorities learn English and Tamil and flourish.

Sorry Buddy! Thursday, 20 October 2022 10:43 AM

Chris! "The English spoken by most lawyers is NOT appealing." It is appalling. No offence intended Chris! This is my way of correcting an error. sorry, if I hurt you!

Sing the Baila! Thursday, 20 October 2022 10:51 AM

This is the only ambition of SWRD. Banda! He was our hero and UNP just wiped out, by Lankans. We are a proud Tamil/Sinhala nation. Tamil politicians also took up the challenge to sink the nation. Let Banda and other politicians send their children abroad and study English. We will vote for native heroes, even if the snake sing a Baila in Kelaniya. After 65 years wallowing in the mud, who wants English.

Jef Thursday, 20 October 2022 11:02 AM

Not only council of leagle education ministers officials that represent the country should be made compalsury You see in colombo many young speakes English also have a good prsonalty behaviour etc....

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Council of Legal Education stands by decision to conduct law college examinations only in English: Minister

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