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Sri Lanka children will have to learn Hindi and Chinese in the future to fit into the changing world, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.
Speaking during the Prize giving of Anula Vidyalaya Nugegoda, President Wickremesinghe said the education in Sri Lanka will have to change drastically to fit into the future. We will have to introduce new subjects. Our children will have to learn Chinese and Hindi in addition to English in order to fit into the changing world,” he said.
We will have to introduce new subjects to fit into the new Generation Alpha (Gen Alpha) which is based on technology. Students in schools will have to pursue their education through mobile phones and podcasts. We will have to teach genome technology, Artificial intelligence and robotics in schools and universities. New technology will bring a global revenue of one and a half trillion dollars in the future. Sri Lanka has no choice but to be a part of it,” he said.
Referring to climate change, the President said Sri Lanka will face a water shortage within the next 20 years. “We will have to expedite the climate change programme and go along with the globe when dealing with climate change as it has been said by the UN chief,” he said. (Yohan Perera)
Sivalingam Thursday, 17 August 2023 08:21 AM
Indians and Chinese are learning English, but if you continue like this perhaps this could become a colony of Indians and Chinese.
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lkbyo Thursday, 17 August 2023 02:12 PM
then should we also sing Sri Lanka Maatha in that language?
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Kandiah Balendran Thursday, 17 August 2023 08:22 AM
Everyone should learn Tamil, and Tamil should be the national language.
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Dee Thursday, 17 August 2023 09:07 PM
And do what? Start another separatist war for the next couple of generations!
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joshua Thursday, 17 August 2023 08:27 AM
It called the changing world. It is the change brought about by the begging politicians of SL.
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Sakala Bujan Thursday, 17 August 2023 08:51 AM
Previous govt forced Tamil on our children when even in India except in one state it is not used or taught in any other place. Now what are you coming to?
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Grace Thursday, 17 August 2023 08:54 AM
First advise Sri Lankan politicians to learn Sinhala, Tamil and English.
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Local languages only good for local activity not earning from overseas Thursday, 17 August 2023 05:25 PM
How is learning Sinhala or Tamil going to generate dollars? Good for local talk, but no good outside of the country or to earn elsewhere.
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Ama Thursday, 17 August 2023 08:56 AM
Why cannot yoy advice children to learn FRENCH instead of Hindi? The reason being that we Sri Lankan cannot go to India for employment 'coz Indians won't give jobs to Lankans. But, certainly we can go to FRANCE and work there.
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BuffaloaCitizen Friday, 18 August 2023 11:51 AM
No jobs in France for Sri Lankans. Best place is ME where you can wash the pots, pans and toilets of Arabs. Dan Sapada?
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Ding ding Thursday, 17 August 2023 08:59 AM
North
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Reza Thursday, 17 August 2023 09:08 AM
First gear all schools to teach English as the main language rather than putting us at labour level to learn Hindi and Chinese. Cursed with a leaders who have no vision and don’t love the culture and it’s People.
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Be Fair Thursday, 17 August 2023 09:08 AM
Before that about Decency, Respect, Honour, Integrity, Honesty
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Ram Thursday, 17 August 2023 09:17 AM
How about Russian and North Korean?
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Suhada malli Thursday, 17 August 2023 09:26 AM
President RW always saw the future but miserably failed to have concrete action plans to get there. If Mr President want to win the hearts of the dwindling, suffering and struggling middle class who are carrying the burden of past sins, he better declare a granular action plan as now the citizens are suspicious of his capability to deliver outcomes. Many still respect him for been a visionary, but unfortunately we need a team that can deliver a vision (without corruption).
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Mike Jeya Thursday, 17 August 2023 09:26 AM
First Teach the children proper English and teach the Tamil children Sinhala and Sinhala Children Tamil. Then the misunderstandings between communities will disappear and they will fit into our country as united citizens.
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Kiri putha Thursday, 17 August 2023 09:30 AM
Nice job. He think it is big deal . Hope regular peoples are not much stupid
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Suhada malli Thursday, 17 August 2023 09:31 AM
Seek FAO assistance to promote large scale drip irrigation and other water management technologies such as those used in Israel. Further study if Mahaweli water for rice cultivation can be sent down bottom sealed canals instead of bottom unsealed canals.
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eresh S kumara Thursday, 17 August 2023 09:38 AM
Of coz china or india will rule sri lanka in future
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No room for vendors of language and religion Thursday, 17 August 2023 09:48 AM
At last one of our leader is speaking common sense, while Saudi Arabia has already encouraged and sent students to learn Chinese language. Saudis are very much attached to Arabic language, where they speak only in Arabic tongue among themselves, even if they know English well. This is so even at Board Meetings.
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Ram Thursday, 17 August 2023 10:08 AM
Will Sri Lanka a colony of China or India? English is the internationally accepted language to travel or work overseas. Hindi and Chinese will only help a person to work in those two countries. Where are we heading? I need some guidance from our President
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Seqi Thursday, 17 August 2023 10:18 AM
Well said. Reality is kicking in..... this will need better educated politicians to even understand what is going on in the world let alone implement forward looking policies. The colonial powers will of course poke insanitary fingers where they shouldn't..... but that is what happens when nations reject servility.
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Lumbini Thursday, 17 August 2023 10:27 AM
This President has no vision. He just talks about anything whatever comes to his mind.
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European Thursday, 17 August 2023 10:56 AM
Seqi: not at all. Do as you please and learn Chinese and Hindi. Most Europeans can not even find Sri Lanka on a map.
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Aquarius Thursday, 17 August 2023 11:12 AM
How come Sinhala politicians do not speak Tamil but many Tamil politicians speak Sinhala? Introduce both languages in schools island-wide and make English a compulsory language in the curriculum. Chinese and Hindi are not going to help the future generations. RR is trying to appease the Indians and the Chinese.
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rbh Thursday, 17 August 2023 11:18 AM
This is to how to communicate to pay the borrowed money that he begged to win his election and the future has to pay. This tha proof that he has made agreement.
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Jonah Thursday, 17 August 2023 11:36 AM
Have about five languages in the curriculum of children so that they become versed in those languages and neglect the other subjects.
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City Thursday, 17 August 2023 11:36 AM
25 years ago he said even the coconut plucker will have a mobile and people never believed his predictions. I think he strongly believes Asia is going to be the leaders.
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Raj Thursday, 17 August 2023 11:41 AM
The state Tamil Nadu has two language policy, Tamil and English. They rejected Hindi long time ago and still they are the second largest GDP Contributor to Indian Economy. We should have 3 Language Policy as it is now. With AI, the language barrier may vanish in coming decades.
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Gama Rala Thursday, 17 August 2023 11:46 AM
Rajapaksas are very fluent in Chinese, specially four words "what is my commission". And Ranil in Hindi, "please support me to stay in power, you are my only hope"
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Rohan Winston Thursday, 17 August 2023 11:50 AM
Please let's not wash our dirty clothes in public and get off topic. I too agree that English is a must. English is the most important language eventhough in future colonisation or "change" is inevitable.
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Rohan Thursday, 17 August 2023 12:35 PM
It appears the President has made up his mind that Sri Lanka will have to be separated into Chinese in the South and Tamil/ Hindi in the North and East. Please complete the task your erstwhile friend Rajapakse started.
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Gulle Anawansha Thursday, 17 August 2023 12:37 PM
Pali and Sanskrit are Hindi for Ranil.
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Ahamed Nuzhan Thursday, 17 August 2023 01:10 PM
What is he talking about? Even in India, several states are opposing the imposition of Hindi.
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Bernard Jayatilake Thursday, 17 August 2023 01:13 PM
This statement can.be considered in the light of pressure exerted by these two countries for begging aid from them to make the country their colony.
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Volker Metzger Thursday, 17 August 2023 01:29 PM
Anyone who, like RW, repeatedly expresses unpredictable political visions of the future should go to a psychiatrist !!! In this way, RW distracts attention from the continuing serious problems of the country and from the fact that it cannot cope with them !!! The children should, as mentioned in some of the comments here, first learn Tamil and Singalesian vice versa, so that they get the idea that both peoples, who have been living together for more than 2000 years, belong together and form the unity of the country !!! That would also be a significant contribution to revising mutual prejudices and negative opinions and finally overcoming ethnic tensions !!! The future of Sri Lanka is neither Chinese nor Indian, but national and international (cosmopolitan)! The future is always uncertain, far-reaching considerations can only be highly speculative and do not help to solve the immediate problems of the present !!!
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Karalasingam Sivalingam Thursday, 17 August 2023 01:40 PM
To learn Chinese (mandrin) and Hindi languages are welcome and encouraging, but after Singhala only implementation, English language vanished. Those who attended even popular schools are yet unable to converce in English. Let's find English, Chinese and Hindi teachers for every school in the Island.
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Volker Metzger Thursday, 17 August 2023 02:05 PM
Anyone who, like RW, repeatedly expresses unpredictable political visions of the future should go to a psychiatrist !!! In this way, RW distracts attention from the continuing serious problems of the country and from the fact that it cannot cope with them !!! The children should, as mentioned in some of the comments here, first learn Tamil and Singalesian vice versa, so that they get the idea that both peoples, who have been living together for more than 2000 years, belong together and form the unity of the country !!! That would also be a significant contribution to revising mutual prejudices and negative opinions and finally overcoming ethnic tensions !!! The future of Sri Lanka is neither Chinese nor Indian, but national and international (cosmopolitan)! The future is always uncertain, far-reaching considerations can only be highly speculative and do not help to solve the immediate problems of the present !!!
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Upulpb Thursday, 17 August 2023 02:08 PM
Hope they will all learn how to use their brains when it comes to politucal decisions such as voting
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Volker Metzger Thursday, 17 August 2023 02:20 PM
Anyone who, like RW, repeatedly expresses unpredictable political visions of the future should go to a psychiatrist !!! In this way, RW distracts attention from the continuing serious problems of the country and from the fact that it cannot cope with them !!! The children should, as mentioned in some of the comments here, first learn Tamil and Singalesian vice versa, so that they get the idea that both peoples, who have been living together for more than 2000 years, belong together and form the unity of the country !!! That would also be a significant contribution to revising mutual prejudices and negative opinions and finally overcoming ethnic tensions !!! The future of Sri Lanka is neither Chinese nor Indian, but national and international (cosmopolitan)! The future is always uncertain, far-reaching considerations can only be highly speculative and do not help to solve the immediate problems of the present !!!
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Guna Senanyakage Thursday, 17 August 2023 02:44 PM
Mr President for FYI- There is neither a language in this world referred to as Hindi nor Chinese. Next time when you are invited to a school at least get your facts right don't treat the Children of the nation as you politicians regularly treat your voters with mis-information. Also next time before visiting a school at least do your home work ! Thought at least by now your excellency had learnt this lesson by now. PS: Its Urudu and Mandarin
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Knee How Thursday, 17 August 2023 02:50 PM
Stick to English and change the President (and government). Much easier than learning Chinese.
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Hard Truth Thursday, 17 August 2023 02:51 PM
What happened 2500 old rich Chingalam???
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Marcian Christopher Thursday, 17 August 2023 02:52 PM
Why not include Tamil and Arabic also to the schools curriculum?
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Tamil already taught to all students Thursday, 17 August 2023 05:27 PM
Hello Tamil is already part of the curriculum. Maybe you should be aware about the three languages children are all forced to learn here. And three is too many. English can help the most, the rest well they won't help to ear dollars. Better you live where you and not lecture us here!
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Gogia Pasha Thursday, 17 August 2023 02:52 PM
We see the President on a daily basis, attending some Opening Ceremony or as Chief Guest somewhere or addressing some gathering. In each of these events he has to come out with some new Topic and that is why he is seen as if he has landed from the moon with some new idea.
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Darmasena Thursday, 17 August 2023 03:33 PM
Have you ever said to our people to learn one of the oldest living language "Tamil" ?
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Alam Thursday, 17 August 2023 03:34 PM
Most Sri Lankens employees in Middle East, learn Arabic, Hindi is good for Bollywood, but no jobs. Chineese will speak in English, as they want from us. But jobs we need Arabic/English/French/Spanish/Russian/Korean/Japanese
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Bernard Jayatilake Thursday, 17 August 2023 04:37 PM
Any fool can understand that apart from the fact that these two languages are mostly used due to the population of these two countries, who will understand or welcome these two languages in other countries of the world?
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Have to learn the languages to get debt relief concessions Friday, 18 August 2023 07:52 AM
There is massive importunity with debt relief to have 1000s of children learn Hindi and Chinese. Those nations will be emotionally compelled for the sacrifices of 10,000s of our children to learn their languages and give us concessions.
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Burning Reindeer Thursday, 17 August 2023 05:20 PM
I thought we are planning to invade India
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Sambo Thursday, 17 August 2023 05:59 PM
Why should we learn Tamil and Chinese because you and the bunch have sold this country to Indaia and China. We will stick to our current languages or study French, Italian or German.
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Tissa Fernando Thursday, 17 August 2023 06:00 PM
Master English , know your sinhala and Tamil. That is more than enough. Interested children may learn French, Japanese, Korean and Arabic too as these are the countries where you can get jobs. But a very good command of English is essential.
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Sammy Thursday, 17 August 2023 07:05 PM
@Sakala Bujan Don't compare learning of Tamil to Hindi
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Sammy Thursday, 17 August 2023 07:08 PM
@Alam Arabic is not needed to work in Middle East. Teaching Arabic in Sri Lanka on a mass scale could make Sri Lanka becoming a Muslim country like Maldives, Indonesia, Malaysia especially with extremists wanting to.
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Sammy Thursday, 17 August 2023 07:14 PM
@Guna Senanyakage There is a language called Hindi, for your information. Though it is the same as Urdu, there are some differences. In Hindi more Sanskrit origin words are used and .written in Devanagiri script. In Urdu more Arabic
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Sammy Thursday, 17 August 2023 07:18 PM
More effort should be made to improve and popularize English and bring its standard to the level it was before Swabasha rule was introduced in 1956. This is more important than teaching any other new language.
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Aviator Thursday, 17 August 2023 07:23 PM
Statements like this become more common when we have an imbecile for a president.
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He is wicked, not stupid in repressing our freedoms Friday, 18 August 2023 07:54 AM
He is bad man, but not necessarily an imbecile. An evil man who causes suffering through repression, and cutting free speech is wicked, but does not mean is lacking in intelligence.
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Citizens Thursday, 17 August 2023 07:36 PM
First make sure that everyone speaks English, especially the politicians.
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Ascot Dexter Thursday, 17 August 2023 07:36 PM
This man needs immediate medical attention? He is not talking sense, why should you learn Hindi
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SSZ KHAN Thursday, 17 August 2023 08:52 PM
Make every child learn English.
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Gb Thursday, 17 August 2023 11:24 PM
Why are we going to be inundated with Indians and or Chinese at some point? After most of the profit making/ strategic areas are sold off? English is the language everyone should know, I don't know of any programming languages in hindi or Chinese, robotics too need coding in English, same with ai, are we being prepped to become servants of future invaders?, why is research vessel here? To scan for oil? Valuable minerals?, construct secret underwater offensive bases? Something smells fishy l, with politicians like ours we are qn easy target
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Roger Halliday Friday, 18 August 2023 12:00 AM
Somebody's going off his head. I hope somebody will examine thus guy and send him to that place these type of patients are treated.
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Ahmed Friday, 18 August 2023 01:04 AM
I have no words. Feeling sorry for mother Lanka and it's youth. These politicians don't have a proper vision. They have no respect towards mother lankas culture.
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ENGLISH ENGLISH ENGLISH Friday, 18 August 2023 02:03 AM
Teach ENGLISH as a second language but properly and at a higher level. Also have spoken English classes included with the English curriculum. Its THE international language.
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Citizen B Friday, 18 August 2023 03:40 AM
@Citizens: You are asking for too much. Let them understand the language first.
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dot v Friday, 18 August 2023 03:51 AM
Learning languages develops the mind ,There is so much happening decoding the concepts from the known to unknown ..even old people are encouraged to learn a new language to arrest the mind from decline .So its a progressive thought to introduce more languages to the curriculum ..but it requires many a input as in teacher training and audio appliances and much more to motivate kids as to the need of it in their daily lives ..or to achieve the final goal of earning a living .
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Edie Friday, 18 August 2023 03:56 AM
Why not start Languages such as Cantonese and Hindi by 2024
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Fahim Knight Friday, 18 August 2023 07:47 AM
Interestingly, even Morocco, formerly a French colony, is transitioning to English. India has consistently recognized the significance of English as a crucial link. China is following a similar trajectory. For progress, it is vital to establish English as the official language, while designating Sinhala and Tamil as national languages. English must reach even the most remote villages. Additionally, Mr. President, in light of the rapid advancement of AI, it is imperative that both our youth and senior citizens become well-versed in internet education. Thanks to AI, our remarkably intelligent children will soon communicate fluently in any language."
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2500 so called culture only holds the nation down Friday, 18 August 2023 07:50 AM
After too long just about local matters, and religious focus President for once realise future is with learning from overseas. It about time to start looking beyond 2500 of no good history to a better future, or always be caught in the karmic trap of looking back and repeating the mistakes.
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Ceylonese Friday, 18 August 2023 07:54 AM
Acccording to a recent survey taken in February 2023 English is the most widely spoken language in the world followed by Mandarin (Chinese) and Hindi while Spanish and French came next.
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Sambo Friday, 18 August 2023 07:58 AM
There will be hail storms on your grave for such evil wishes you make.
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linda Friday, 18 August 2023 09:47 AM
Only China is the fairest and safest country in the world. You cannot get a job if you know English in any country, but if you know Chinese, the Chinese will hire you as a translator.
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Punchi Friday, 18 August 2023 02:09 PM
Our children have to learn Chinese and Hindi because based on our current non existent development trajectory we will be sending maids and drivers to both countries
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WSW Friday, 18 August 2023 02:18 PM
Compelled to learn Hindi? Thanks but No thanks, just make English, Sinhalese and Tamil compulsory in the school curriculum for all Sri Lankan school kids. Had this been implemented soon after the LTTE war, a brand new generation of multilingual kids would have ushered a new era of hope in our society. As for the rest, anyone interested, can pursue whatever else.
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victoria house hotel Friday, 18 August 2023 05:01 PM
this man is totally out of order
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Garawi Saturday, 19 August 2023 07:05 AM
Not all Indians speak Hindi. Then why does this man want us to learn Hindi? I'd is planning to sell Sri Lanka to India and China? You can see the mentality of the person who came through the backdoor to become the president.
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VRAJ Tuesday, 22 August 2023 07:00 AM
CHINESE PEOPLES LEARN OTHER LANGUAGE THEY WENT ABROAD TO WORK.
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