Tamil Medium Trainers successfully complete online Training on the Language Planning Process
The Language Division of the Ministry of Public Services, Provincial Councils and Local Government, with the support of NLEAP, successfully concluded a three-day Training workshop for Tamil Medium Trainers on the Language Planning Process. 11 Tamil medium trainers from the Northern and Eastern Provinces (Jaffna, Mannar, Killinochchi, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara districts) joined in the online training conducted via Zoom from the 21st to 23rd June 2021.
This Training of Trainers workshop on the Language Planning process forms part of the Technical Assistance provided by NLEAP to the Ministry to enable effective coordination of the development of Language Plans based on the Implementation Strategy of the Official Languages Policy. The inaugural session for the training programme commenced with the Welcome Address by Don E. Brownell (Director -NLEAP), followed by the 
Opening Remarks of Ms. R. Wijialudchumi (Additional Secretary – National Languages Division, Ministry of Public Services, Provincial Councils and Local Government). The presentation by M. Thirunavukarasu (Deputy Director – NLEAP) on the Official Languages Policy and the Language Planning Process helped set the tone and foundation for the workshop.
Facilitated by H.R. Mohamed Shibly (Local Service Provision Specialist, NLEAP) and Jebamalaimuthu Benedict (Trainer/Consultant), the workshop focused on building the knowledge and capacity of the trainers as effective facilitators of the Language Planning Process. Integral to the training was: helping them gain an understanding of the impact an organization culture has on the implementation of language plans; providing them with the necessary tools and skills to conduct a situational analysis of Language Plan implementation within an organization; and building their knowledge and capacity to formulate and implement effective, suitable Language Plans. The training provided on meeting techniques and presentation skills were greatly appreciated by the participants who were eager to enhance their capacity to build awareness and engagement amongst their intended audience. The successful conclusion of the workshop sets the path for the Ministry and NLEAP to proceed with online training on the Language Planning Process.
