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NEWS
VOLUME
English : An Undervalued Asset -Staff Article
May-June Eastern Elections
Provin
2008
Council Elections of Ma Press Conference held o Speaking at the press co
Udaya Edirimanna( CMEV) . Recommendations are available http://www.cpalanka.org/cmev cmev.wordpress.com
CMEV Reports and
at the CPA website and can be tracked at at
Kalupathirana National (INFORM
Conf Provincial
As the culmination of an islandwide programme analyzing the Provincial Councils system in Sri Lanka, Outreach Unit CPA hosted a National Conference on Provincial Councils on 28th May 2008 at the BMICH in Colombo. The conference launched the Final Report on Strengthening the Provincial Council Process, as well as recapped on the diverse lessons captured from the exhaustive series of consultations with representatives and officials from Provincial Councils island wide. Among the distinguished participants at the conference were Hon. MP Tissa Vitharana, Chairperson of All Party Representative Committee(APRC). Hon Rauf Hakeem, Leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Hon.
AR: pres BL: Hon cont pg 4
Hon. Ra
PG 2 PG 3 PG 4
New Publications at CPA Papers written
CPA in the NEWS

NEWS
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3, 2008 May-June 2008 Eastern Elections
Provincial
2008
ouncil Elections of May 10th and presented its Reports and Recommendations in a ress Conference held on May 12th at the SLFI, Colombo . peaking at the press conference were Dr P Saravanamuttu, (ED CPA) Udaya alupathirana National (INFORM) Rasika Perera Conference (CPA), D.M.Dissanayake ( CPA/CMEV) on
and
Provincial Councils, 2008 e analyzing treach Unit al Councils
Report on , as well as from the ntatives and
conference of All Party f Hakeem,
C) Hon.
cont pg 4
PG 4
CPA in the
Calendar
of Events NEWS ns
A Glance at Programmes
AR: presenting the report to US Charge D’ Affairs, Mr James Moore BL: Hon Dharmasiri Dassanayake ,Hon Shan Wijeyelal De Silva, Hon. Rauf Hakeem and BR Hon. Minister TIssa Vitharana
The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence comprising Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), Free Media Movement (FMM), and the INFORM Human Rights Documentation Center, monitored the Eastern Provincial
PG 5 PG 6

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the English Language-
An Undervalued Asset
I read with interest the article titled “Medium of Legal Education” by Mr. Savimon Urugodawatta in the Island of 29
2
expanding g
th
May. I wish to
technology su
make the following comments- We are now living in a globally
of how globa
interconnected 21
st
century Sri Lanka which requires a decent or
the world. M
high standard of both written and spoken English if a person is to
communicati
find employment in the largely service oriented private sector and
And English
through such employment to earn a higher salary. English which is
businesses pr
only recognized as a link language in our constitution, has become a
Updates in s
must for survival.
evolving info
There are many instances where young people just out of school or
be accessed s
university whose written and spoken English skills are not up to
To the cred
standard have been turned down at job interviews in the private
Initiative, “E
sector.
at gearing up
The CWW Kannangara education reforms of the 1940’s had
English langu
completed its course by the time the free market economy was
Under this in
introduced to this country in the late 1970’s by J R Jayewardene.
up. This insti
This led to unprecedented growth in the economy. Businesses were
to Sri Lanka
created and through these, more employment opportunities came
in turn sprea
into being where written and spoken English became a necessity.
recruitment
There was also a greater demand for professional courses such as
skills into job
Chartered Institute of Management Accountancy (CIMA) and
The Former
Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) which required a high
De Mel was
standard of English competency quite apart from the technical
to some selec
knowledge involved.
produce the i
More parents sent their children to international schools as the standard
F L Woodw
of English in the vast majority of our state and private schools is
becomes an a
abysmally low. This is probably because the English language teachers
speak his/he
we now have in our local schools are themselves the products of the
the learning
CWW Kannangara education reforms and the Sinhala only policy.
mothertongu
We cannot blame the teachers for their lack of English. It is the
Just because
education system that they received their education in that I blame.
does not me
Students of our international schools are generally gainfully employed
community t
both locally and abroad because of the education they received in
citizenship an
the English medium from top quality teachers in those schools. I
of English is
have friends working as doctors, engineers, accountants and finance
not a liability
professionals in the UK, Australia, Canada, Singapore and other
In the interco
countries that not so long ago were students of international schools
country to co
in Colombo.
would undou
I am almost sure that if they had received only a monolingual
ironically tho
education in the Sinhala or Tamil medium they would not have the
alienated. An
career opportunities they do both locally and abroad.
mentality.
Both CWW Kannangara and F L Woodward were good for their time in history. But times have changed and what we have today is
article availa
Staff Articles reflect the opinions of individual members of staff and are not necessarily indicative of CPA.
The a prime rapid example growth in of communication how
globalization tech a
world. day businesses to Most day business prefer businesses STAFF to transactions.English
work in this in.
country ARTICLE an
Niranjan Ban flict and Peac

nglish Language-
ndervalued efer h le iness sinesses in of STAFF to communication how transactions.English work in globalization this in.
country ARTICLE-NIRANJAN Asset technology and and is abroad the with language such it use English as these mobile of commerce communication language phone BANDARANAYAKE
that has usage spread the facilities and vast internet across majority for their the is
of
ation” ish to obally ent or n is to or and hich is come a
ool or up to rivate
’s had y was rdene. s were came sity. uch as ) and a high hnical
andard ools is achers of the policy. is the blame. ployed ved in ools. I inance other chools
ingual ve the
r their day is
2
expanding globalization. The rapid growth in communication technology such as mobile phones and the internet are prime examples of how globalization and with it English language has spread across the world. Most businesses in this country and abroad use these communication facilities for their day to day business transactions. And English is the language of commerce that the vast majority of businesses prefer to work in. Updates in science ,technology medical advances and access to ever evolving information on global and environmental policy etc have to be accessed speedily without relying on translations. To the credit of this Government the Presidential Task Force Initiative, “English as a Life Skill” was launched recently. It is aimed at gearing up youth for the job market by teaching them job-oriented English language skills. Under this initiative a center for English language training is to be set up. This institute will see the transferring of Indian teaching methods to Sri Lanka and train 30 English teachers as master trainers who will in turn spread their knowledge. A result of this initiative will be the recruitment of 54,000 persons who have acquired the necessary skills into jobs in the IT and the Business Process Outsourcing sectors. The Former Secretary to the Ministry of Education Dr. Mrs. Tara De Mel was correct in trying to reintroduce English medium at least to some selected schools for a start. It is a pity that her efforts did not produce the intended results largely due to factors beyond her control. F L Woodward when he wrote a hundred years ago that a person becomes an alien in ones community or nation because one does not speak his/her mother tongue, may not have mentioned the fact that the learning of Enlish doed nothing to prevent one from retaining a mothertongue perfectly well . Just because a Sri Lanka does not speak or write Sinhala or Tamil does not mean that he/she is alienated from Sri Lanka or the community that he/she lives in. He/she is a Sri Lanka by birth and citizenship and not by language. A person with a working knowledge of English is an asset to his/her organization and to Sri Lanka and not a liability. In the interconnected world that we live in where people move from country to country to live and work, a working knowledge of English would undoubtedly stand them in good stead. In such a scenario it is ironically those who cannot speak or write in English who may feel alienated. An alienation that leads to a distinctly “frog in the well” mentality.
article available at: http://www.island.lk/2008/06/11/opinion6.html Niranjan Bandaranayake is Resercher with Con- flict and Peace Analysis Unit, CPA

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NEWNEWNEWNEWNEW TITLESTITLESTITLESTITLESTITLES
University Newsletter 2008
This month
Report of Work
Provincial Counc The Centre for Po a negotiated poli through power-s was conceived experiences of implementing th light and collated policy-makers an public.
The programme it of discussions we representatives, a a series of three-d followed in which and alternatives w together elected Councils was con recommendation Provincial Counc thematic repor publication bring The report is www.cpal FINAL_REPORT_O Sinhala and Tam printed copies of upon request.
3

BiLingual s month
Modules on Power Sharing NEWNEWNEWNEWNEW
and the 13th Amendment TITLESTITLESTITLESTITLESTITLES
Report of Workshop Deliberations- Programme on Strengthening the
Provincial Council System
P
The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), has consistently held that a negotiated political solution of the ethnic conflict is possible through power-sharing. A collaboration between CPA and USAID was conceived as an exercise through which the views and experiences of those who have first-hand knowledge of implementing the Provincial Council system could be brought to light and collated in a systematic manner so as to be of use to policy-makers and constitutional reformers as well as the general public.
The programme itself comprised three stages. Firstly, initial rounds of discussions were held with the Chief Ministers, other elected representatives, and officials of the Provincial Councils. Thereafter, a series of three-day workshops, one for each Provincial Council, followed in which the current realities, effectiveness, challenges and alternatives were identified. Finally, a final workshop bringing together elected representatives and officials from all Provincial Councils was convened so as to (a)agree on a final set of common recommendations, and (b) to finalise the recommendations of each Provincial Council. In addition to the above, CPA also prepared a thematic report of issues highlighted in workshops. This publication brings together all outputs of the programme. The report is available o the CPA website at - http:// www.cpalanka.org/research_papers/ FINAL_REPORT_ON_PCs_2008_May_CPA.pdf Sinhala and Tamil e copies too are available at this website and printed copies of the report can be collected from the CPA office upon request.
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Page 4
PRESS “Membership of the Human Rights Council .”- by Dr P Saravanamuttu, May 21 Morning Leader
PRESSPRESSPRESS PRESSPRESS “HRC Defeat and Noyahr Assault :
proving a point promptly” Dr P Saravanamuttu, Morning
REVIEW REVIEWREVIEWREVIEW REVIEWREVIEW Leader,28th May
“Giving Power to Provincial Councils is essential”interview with Asanga Welikala Lankadeepa May 27
...pg 1 cont “People’s Noise and People’s
Pro Power”by Sunanda Deshapriya Ravaya, 8th June
“GSP + and the Need for Constitutional Reform:what we did and did not Say-Rohan Edrisinha and Asanka Welikala, Daily Island, 29th June Statements & Press Releases A Brief Profile of the Trincomalee High Security Zone and Other Land Issues in Trincomalee District
http://www.cpalanka.org/research_papers/Trinco_land_issues_2008.pdf Civil society Organisations condemn all acts of violence against civilians
http://www.cpalanka.org/Statements/ Statement_on_civilian_June_2008.pdf Need for a Substantial Revision of the Victim and Witness Protection Bill http://www.cpalanka.org/Statements/ CPA_statement_on_Victim_and_Witness_June_2008.pdf
4
Tissa At
“Suspension of Video
Party (U Embass Conferencing a Major Hindrance
Chief M to the Progress of the COI”- Dr Nesiah, Daily Mirror, June 26th
Provinc Sarath E A short program was pre particip “This ki very rel this poi “ Not ju importa implem “The e negotia sort, to subject Moore, The Na Media b Mirror, informa of the website

PRESS PRESSPRESSPRESS PRESSPRESS lt :
g
REVIEW REVIEWREVIEWREVIEW REVIEWREVIEW incial erview ala 7
...pg 1 cont National Conference on Provincial Councils
e
a,
es
igh Security ncomalee
s_2008.pdf mn all acts ns
the Victim ill
pdf
4
Tissa Attatnayake , Gen Secretary United National Party (UNP) H.E. Mr James Moore, Charge d’affairs Embassy of the United States of America and the rance
Chief Ministers of Southern and Central ”- Dr
Provinces, Hon Shan Wijeyalal De Silva and Hon Sarath Ekanayeke.. A short documentary showing highlights of the programme was screened and the Final Report was presented to all, after which distinguished participants shared their views. “This kind of a clear discourse addressing these very relevant issues was very much welcome at this point in time” – Hon. Tissa Vitharana “ Not just the 13th , the 17th amendment is just as important and we have yet to see a real will to implement these,” Hon Rauf Hakeem, leader SLMC “The ethnic problem can only be solved by negotiation and as such, an endeavor of this sort, to bring about serious discourse on the subject, should be fully promoted” - H.E. James Moore, Charge d’affairs, US Embassy. The National Conference was covered in the Media by, Sirasa , Derana and MTV News and Daily Mirror, Daily Island and the Sunday Times. More information on the Programme and the E Versions of the Final Report are available on the CPA website at http://www.cpalanka.org

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Action Action Action Action Action Plan Plan Plan Plan Plan on on on on on Gender Gender Gender Gender Gender Equity Equity Equity Equity Equity TALKING GENDER GENDER GENDER GENDER GENDER ALKING ALKING ALKING ALKING in in in in in Media Media Media
Media Media -Media
Unit photo from the two day Summit on Gender Equity in Media held, Colombo 3rd-4th May 2008
-Polling Unit
Dr Colin Irwin, from the Institute of Irish Studies at the University of Liverpool, who
A developed the peace polls method as part of the successful Northern Ireland peace
GLANCE AT process, directed a poll on Peace in Sri Lanka from March to May 2008.
programmes The research for this poll was carried out by the staff of CPA-Social Indicator who collected questions during interviews undertaken by the research team from February and March 2008. The aim of this study is to identify the differences of opinion amongst different ethnic communities on Sri Lankan ethnic conflict thereby assisting parties in formulating a political solution. The survey included a random sample of 1,700 people from all parts of Sri Lanka with the exception of the Northern Province. Reports are available at http:// www.cpalanka.org/research_papers/ Peace_in_Sri_Lanka.pdf Dr. Irwin’s outline of the research was carried in Daily Mirror on Saturday June 21st and on Monday June 23rd.
5 5 Budget Local Transp
Author

n n n n n on on on on on Gender Gender Gender Gender Gender TALKING GENDER GENDER GENDER GENDER GENDER ALKING ALKING ALKING ALKING in in in in in Media Media Media
Media Media -Media
Unit wo day Summit on y in Media held, -4th May 2008
A GLANCE AT programmes
5 5
Action Plan on Gender Equity in Media ‘’Talking Gender”, a two-day Summit on Gender Equity in Media in Colombo held 3rd – 4th May 2008, culminated with the adoption of a two-year Action Plan on Gender, by the five journalist organisations: Federation of Media Employees Trade Unions; Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association; Free Media Movement; Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance and Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum.
Identifying the lack of women’s participation in media unions/ organisations as well as lack of training among women journalists as priority issues, the Plan aims to increase quantity and quality of participation in media unions/organizations and ensure leadership training and capacity building of women journalists. The Action Plan, which is based on the foundation laid by the Charter of Gender Equity for Media and Journalism in Sri Lanka (2006) was an outcome of discussions among representatives of women journalists from print, electronic and online media. A Working Group, led by three Convenors was established to implement the Action Plan
-Polling Unit
Budget Transparency for Local Authorities
photo from the Workshop for the Balapitiya Pradeshya Sabha 23th June

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Sanjana MayMayMayMayMay
Hattotuwa, Sen Researcher, CPA was invited conduct a workshop on technol
3rd-4th May Summit on Gender Equity in Media .
and peacebuilding at the Glo Peacebuilders Summit 6th - 7th May in Belfast, UK Sanjan Colombo Media Unit, CPA
presentation w based on 12nd May Press Conference on Monitoring of Eastern
experience leveraging ICT Sri Lanka and Provincial Council
growing poten for their 28th May National Conference on Provincial Councils part of the Provincial
under repressive regimes. M details at http www.globalpeacebuilders.o english/ Needs Assesment Programme
conference.html#Programme BMICH Staff Colombo
@ the Centre
Pradeep Peiris visited New Orleans to attend the WAPOR (World Associa for Public Opinion Research) Annual General Conference that was held fr May 13th- 15th, in collaboration with the American Association for Pu Opinion Research. During the sessions, Pradeep Peiris presented a pape polling for peace policies.
Manjula Gajanayake of Outreach facilitated in Colombo. by Sundari UNDP titled De Alwis Applying and Objectives of the Programme were to Plan Access to implementing to Justice assessments HRBA.
an
Among the exerc
Pradeep presenting his paper at the WAPOR conference in New
and the challeng aid, because o documentation. Orleans
divisional secreta INGO and NGO w This forms part o carried out the in in carrying out F UNOPS Staff is also in
Change Ms. Anupama from the unit to Ms. Iromi Pere from June. She
CONTCONTCONTCONTCONTACT CT CT CT CT DET DET DETAILAILAILAILAILS DET DET Media Unit Tel +94-112-2375263
CentrCentrCentrCentrCentre fe fe fe fe for Por Por Por Por Policolicolicolicolicy Alternatives Alternatives Alternatives Alternatives Alternatives 24/2 24/2 24/2 24/2 24/2 28th 28th 28th 28th 28th Lane Lane Lane Lane Lane OfOfOfOfOff F Flowlowlowlowlower F F F Rder Rder Rder Rder Rd
Governance and Anti Corruption Programme Tel +94-112-564404
Colombo Colombo Colombo Colombo Colombo 7 7 7 7 7 Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri Lank Lank Lank Lank Lanka Tel el el el el +94-112-565304- +94-112-565304- +94-112-565304- +94-112-565304- +94-112-565304-
Fax Fax Fax Fax Fax +94-114-714460 +94-114-714460 +94-114-714460 +94-114-714460 +94-114-714460 Compiled by Chandrika Gadiewasam- chand
Meeting political scientist Dr. Pippa Norris, Professor of Political Science, Harvard University
6
J

he
Hattotuwa, Senior er, CPA was invited to workshop on technology ebuilding at the Global ilders Summit 6th -
in Belfast, UK Sanjana’s presentation was based on the experience of leveraging ICTs in Sri Lanka and the growing potential for their use pressive regimes. More at http:// balpeacebuilders.org/
e.html#Programme
JuneJuneJuneJuneJune
24th June Follow up Workshop for Representatives and Officials of the Kinniya Urban Council, Kinniya (CPA-Outreach supported by People in Need)
28th June Citizen Responsibility on COPE Findings, Workshop, Kurunegala (Governance and Anti Corruption Programme)
Gajanayake of Outreach Unit participated in the 2 day Programme bo. by Sundari UNDP titled De Alwis Applying and HRBA Hasika to Perera Access of to CPA Justice also held participated. 23rd – 24th June The s of the Programme were Introduction of Human Rights Based Approach to plementing Justice assessments HRBA.
and programming and development of an Action
Among the exercises for example were identification of vulnerable groups and the challenges they face in accessing justice and obtaining basic legal aid, because of the difficulty of retaining their personal legal documentation. Participants were from diverse backgrounds including divisional secretaries, High Court Judges, Legal Aid commission officers, INGO and NGO workers, civil society leaders and retired civil servants. This forms part of the Access to Justice Project by UNDP for which CPA carried out the initial Mapping Exercise and CPA Social Indicator is involved in carrying out Focus Group Discussions and such qualitative research.
r.
UNOPS Staff is also involved Changes
in this project.
Ms. Anupama Ranawana of Social Indicator resigned from the unit to pursue Higher Studies. Ms. Iromi Perera joined the same unit as Researcher from June. She has a BA. in Sociology-Psychology from
WAPOR (World Association
Christ Collage Bangalore. ference that was held from
Mr. Chanaka Krishantha left Media rican Association for Public Peiris presented a paper on
Unit after the close of the Project
ONTONTONTONTONTACT CT CT CT CT DET DET DETAILAILAILAILAILS DET DET entrentrentrentrentre fe fe fe fe for Por Por Por Por Policolicolicolicolicy
Alternatives Alternatives Alternatives Alternatives Alternatives Social Indicator
Tel +94-11-2370474 24/2 24/2 24/2 24/2 24/2 28th 28th 28th 28th 28th Lane Lane Lane Lane Lane OfOfOfOfOff F Flowlowlowlowlower F F F Rder Rder Rder Rder Rd Colombo Colombo Colombo Colombo Colombo 7 7 7
7 7 Outreach Unit
Tel +94-11-2370801-4 Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri Lank Lank Lank Lank Lanka +94-112-565304-6 +94-112-565304-6 +94-112-565304-6 +94-112-565304-6 +94-112-565304-6 x x x x x +94-114-714460 +94-114-714460 +94-114-714460 +94-114-714460 +94-114-714460
Legal Unit Tel +94-11-2565304-Ext100 ika Gadiewasam- chandrika@cpalanka.org
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