ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The first ever Urdu Language Training Centre in Sri Lanka was inaugurated on Friday at an impressive ceremony held in Colombo.
The Minister for National Dialogue Mano Ganesan was the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony.
The High Commissioner of Pakistan in Sri Lanka Major General (retd) Syed Shakeel Hussain, State Minister of National Integration and Reconciliation, A.H.M. Fowzie, Sri Lankan government ministers, ambassadors, senior government officials, think tank representatives and parents and friends of the students also attended the event, said a press release received here.
The Urdu Language Centre has been established by the High Commission of Pakistan as part of Pakistan Culture, Education and Urdu Language Learning Centre that would be imparting language training to Pakistani, Sri Lankan and other expatriate students.
The Urdu Centre has been named after Baba-e-Urdu Maulvi Abdul Haq in view of his vision and extraordinary contribution towards development of the modern Urdu language.
The Centre will provide free of charges Urdu language education to the students as the expenditures of the training would be borne by the Pakistani government. The students would only be required to pay through their hard work and dedication.
While addressing the gathering, Pakistan’s High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Major General (retd) Syed Shakeel Hussain underscored that Urdu enjoyed the status of being the mother tongue of millions of people who were residing in all parts of the world. Urdu also enjoyed the status of being the national language of Pakistan.
Shakeel Hussain underlined that Urdu language training would promote better understanding of Pakistan and its culture in Sri Lanka.
He added that Urdu language training would not only assist the Sri Lankan students who go to Pakistan for various educational scholarships and advance learning programmes but would also prove to be a useful skill for the business community.
The chief guest said that Urdu Centre would be beneficial for all Sri Lankan communities to learn Urdu language and observe Pakistani culture closely.
He emphasized that Pakistan has remained a close friend and partner of Sri Lanka and has helped Sri Lanka in times of crisis throughout its history.
The event also features several cultural performances by Pakistani and Sri Lankan students, which was thoroughly admired by the participants.
The first Urdu language class for Pakistani and Sri Lankan students was held on August 6, 2015 at Pakistan High Commission, Colombo. The classes are continuing since then and the numbers of students is increasing gradually.
Historically, Urdu language developed and evolved after 8th century A.D in the subcontinent region. Urdu acquired status of lingua franca of the sub-continent during approximately 1000 year long Muslim rule over India.
Source: APP
