Cornell University’s Sinhala language program at risk | Sunday Observer

Cornell University’s Sinhala language program at risk

1 October, 2017

Located in the rural and picturesque Finger Lakes Region of New York State in the US, Cornell University seems an unlikely site for an academic centre focused on the study of historical and contemporary Sri Lanka.

Yet one feature of this Ivy League university often overlooked is that it is the only institution outside of Sri Lanka to offer a full curriculum for the study of Sinhala.

Cornellians have the opportunity to study Tamil, plus Sanskrit and Pali, all languages central to Sri Lanka’s rich literary and ritual histories.

This emphasis on the languages of Sri Lanka has ensured a solid foundation for Cornell’s ongoing scholarship and applied research at the global heart of Sri Lanka Studies.

However, dark clouds loom on the horizon, threatening Cornell’s strengths in Sri Lanka Studies. The University’s Sinhala language program is now at risk. Due to changing governmental priorities, there may be little or no access to US government grants that have historically provided selected universities with partial support for language teaching.

Severely compounding this threat, Cornell University’s changing budgetary policy has reduced support for the Less Commonly Taught Languages, including Sinhala. Cornell University’s full-time Sinhala language program may cease by July 2018.

Only substantial external funding will secure the Cornell Sinhala language curriculum for current and future generations.

What is the return on investment? Support of Cornell’s Sinhala language program contributes to the future of Sri Lanka and our wider world in many ways.

Scholars of literary Sinhala trained by Cornell’s Senior Lecturer in Sinhala help deepen our understanding of the island’s religious, literary and cultural heritage.

This is urgently needed, especially since so few students now pursue these areas in advanced post-graduate courses within Sri Lanka. Young people from the Sri Lankan diaspora are often eager to help build the future of Sri Lanka. Without training in Sinhala and Tamil languages they cannot function effectively, whether among their relatives on the island or in many wider social and professional settings.

Those interested in discussing the future of Cornell’s Sinhala language program should please contact Director, Cornell South Asia Program, Prof. Anne M. Blackburn. 

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