Alinea International Ltd

Published purpose

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.