Centers under the National Language Division

Call Centre 1956

The Call Centre was reactivate on 02.01.2023 to receive complaints on the violation of Official Languages Policy. Also involve in trilingual translations and any other matters related to languages (languages courses, training Programmes, preparation of language plans language competency building exams, meaning of terms, correct letters for the words etc.). The hot line 1956 and social Media number 0702001956 for Viber, Whatsapp, Facebook and imo have been provided to send language problems to the Language Call Center.The OLC, DOL and NILET would coordinate with the call center also involve in this process and coordinating call center activities in this regard.

Language Provincial Centers in Kilinochchi and Batticaloa

Language Provincial Centres at Kilinochchiin the Northern Province and Batticaloa in the Eastern Province language centres facilitate to conduct programmes related to second language courses to the public officers. They improve systems and procedures to deliver second language process in the institutions as well.

• Contact details (kilinochchi) -021 228 3656
• E-Mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Contact details (Batticaloa) -065-2050140

Department of Languages (DOL)

The “Official Language Bureau” which operated as a special unit of the Ministry of Finance in order to facilitate the implementation of Sinhala and Tamil as native languages of Sri Lanka,was restructured as a permanent department under the same ministry from the 01st of October 1955 and thereafter known as the “Department of Official Languages. Following the passage of the Official Languages Act No.33 of 1956,the primary setback faced by the government was performing administrative tasks,which were previously carried out in English, in Sinhala. As a result, from the 1st of October 1956,the duties of the Official Languages were recognized under the supervision of a special commissioner, and the responsibility of facilitating government institutions in using Sinhala as an Official Language of Sri Lanka was assigned to the Department of Official Languages.

Services of Department of Official Language

• Conducting academic courses for Sinhala,Tamil,English and other foreign languages
• Conducting Language proficiency Examinations for government Officers
• Conducting Language proficiency and Efficiency Bar Examination at the request of external institutions
• Compilation of Language textbooks, supplementary books and dictionaries

DOL website: https://www.languagesdept.gov.lk/

National Institute of Language Education and Training (NILET)

National Institute of Language Education and Training was formally established by Act No.26 of 2007 with the objectives of the proper implementation of the Official Languages Policy by promoting inter-ethnic reconciliation for a better mechanism in the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. The key objectives of NILET are capacity building of teachers to teach Sinhala, Tamil & English, capacity building of translators and interpreters, Training of Master Trainers on language teaching and training public officers to deliver bilingual/trilingual services to the general public in terms of bilingual/trilingual competency building of languages.

Services of National Institute of Language Education and Training

• To provide extensive training in the Sinhala, Tamil and English languages so as to make available persons competent to teach Sinhala, Tamil and English to persons who are of acquiring such knowledge
• To provide training and education to suitable persons in languages and to award certificates and diplomas to successful candidates on completion of such training and educations.
• To build up a body of trained personnel equipped to undertake the teaching of languages
• To establish a repository of information matters relating to languages.

OLC website : https://www.nilet.gov.lk/

National Language Equality Advancement project (NLEAP)

The government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) initiated a project called ‘National Language Equality Advancement project (NLEAP),with the grant of CAD 10.85M for the period of 4.5 years commencing from the 2016.This project was established under the leadership of the Ministry of National Coexistence, Dialogue and Official Languages. This is a Grant project funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and implemented by Alinea International (previously Agriteam Canada) designed to strengthen the implementation of Sri Lanka’s Official Languages Policy (OLP) by government actors, A Memorandum of understanding (MOU) for NLEAP was signed between the GOSL and GOC in the year 2016 and it is going complete the implementation of activities by 2023.

The Primary project stakeholders are:

• The Ministry responsible for the implementation of official languages policy (presently the National Languages Division (NLD) of the Ministry of public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government) and its affiliated institutions, which are mandated to coordinate and support the implementation of the Official Language Policy (OLP);
  • National Institute of Language Education and Training (NILET),
  • Department of Official Languages (DOL) and
  • The Official Languages Commissions (OLC)
• The University Grants Commission (UGC) which covers the university of Jaffna, Kelaniya, Sabaragamuwa and Eastern; and
• Civil society organizations through the National Language Fund (NLF)

NLEAP Website : https://www.nleap.lk/