Press Release

India funds post of Hindi Professor at University of Kelaniya.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on 17 January 2017 between the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the University of Kelaniya to fund the post of an ICCR Professor for Hindi Language at the University. The MoU was signed on behalf of ICCR by Mr. Arindam Bagchi, Acting High Commissioner of India, and by Mr. Sunanda Madduma Bandara, Vice Chancellor, University of Kelaniya.

Today’s decision is reflective of the increasing popularity of Hindi in Sri Lanka, and would be the first ICCR Professor of Hindi in any University in Sri Lanka. ICCR would depute an expert from India to occupy the post, who would inter alia deliver lectures at the University of Kelaniya as per the curriculum of University Grants Commission. Funding for the post would be provided by ICCR on grant basis, while local facilities would be provided by the University. Each Professor would be appointed for a two-year term.

ICCR has earlier funded such Hindi Professors in other foreign countries, including Russia, Bangladesh and Thailand. 

Colombo
17 January 2017