We are particularly interested in rural students who are asking for this opportunity. Many parents welcome the move. I was in the final batch which got to study in the English medium. We were lucky. And we haven't forgotten Sinhala just because we learnt in English.
Preparations are now underway.
I have given instructions with a December 31 deadline to translate and print all necessary material and we have released the funds too. The next step is to train teachers. Teacher-training programmes will be conducted from January to April next year, after the principals nominate at least one teacher per subject from their schools. The training is to be in two parts, language and presentation of the subject. This will be in 2002.