English language education policy in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The English language, in its local variations, is thus one element of a language ecology in which plurilingualism is a practical necessity for many, but in which language rights and loyalties have been a prominent political and policy issue, and associated recently with nearly three decades of armed conflict. The enactment of English language education policy not only further cemented the status of an already privileged class, and divisions between urban and rural Sri Lankans, it created ethnic tensions between Sinhalese and Tamils that contributed to post-independence turmoil. During the decade after independence in 1948, English language education policy became progressively caught up in political and ethnic rivalry. English was planned to remain the official language only until its phasing out by 1956, but it became clear English proficiency was continuing to act as gatekeeper to employment in government and business.