Sri Lanka’s first certificate course in Hindi through open and distance learning was launched during the Bharat-Sri Lanka Hindi Sammelan in Colombo recently, organised by the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC), the cultural arm of the High Commission of India to mark the 50th anniversary of World Hindi Day.
The certificate course, a collaborative initiative between the Open University of Sri Lanka and the SVCC, aims to make Hindi learning more accessible nationwide through the University’s Study Centres.
The program reflects the increasing demand for Hindi as an international language and marks a new milestone in academic cooperation between India and Sri Lanka.
Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha, Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr. Madhura Seneviratne, University Grants Commission Chairman Prof. Kapila Seneviratne and Open University of Sri Lanka Vice-Chancellor Prof. P. M. C. Thilakarathne launched the course.
Education and Higher Education Deputy Minister Dr. Madhura Seneviratne and Indian High Commissioner Jha presided over the Bharat-Sri Lanka Hindi Sammelan.
Deputy Minister Dr. Seneviratne named the Hindi language as a “communication bridge” between the two countries. He also lauded the role of music and entertainment industry of India in popularising the language across the world.
Over 400 scholars, teachers, and students from India, Sri Lanka and Nepal participated in the Hindi Sammelan.
The day-long event included three plenary sessions with 25 speakers, a poetry recital, cultural performances celebrating shared heritage, and an open forum on the role of Hindi in modern education.
The celebrations concluded with the screening of the Bollywood film English Vinglish, marking the finale of the Indian Film Fest 2025.