Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government of Sri Lanka has sought the assistance of India to spread/teach Tamil language in their country;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the action taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SMT. PRENEET KAUR)

(a) to (c) President of Sri Lanka visited India in June, 2010. In the Joint Declaration issued on 9 June, India agreed to support to the request of Sri Lanka to extend technical assistance to the Ten Year Presidential Initiative to steer Sri Lanka towards a Trilingual Society by 2020, which also includes teaching of Tamil language in Sri Lanka. In this connection a delegation from the Ministry of Human Resource Development visited Sri Lanka from 12-17 November, 2010 and identified areas of cooperation.

http://www.mea.gov.in/mystart.php?id=220216875.

Sri Lanka

South Asia