The British Council, in collaboration with HSBC and the Ministry of Education, held an awards ceremony recently to commemorate the completion of the English Communication Skills for Remote Delivery Project (ECSRD) 2025.
Over 300 teachers and mentors attended the ceremony, and certificates were awarded to 279 teachers and 51 mentors from the Regional English Support Centres (RESCs) island-wide. Launched in 2022, the ECSRD Project aimed to enhance the quality of English language education in Sri Lanka, with a special focus on rural areas. By strengthening teachers’ ability to develop and assess listening and speaking skills, the initiative supports students’ future employment prospects and career ambitions.
The program provided secondary English language teachers with training on how to better integrate speaking and listening activities into their classroom practice. It also equipped them with strategies to leverage the English language school textbooks more effectively for developing these skills.
Teachers were supported by mentors from the 29 Regional English Support Centres (RESCs), who guided them through the nine-month program. They attended study sessions at their local RESCs and completed portfolio tasks that connected course materials to their real-life classroom teaching.
Since the project’s inception, 66 RESC mentors from 31 RESCs from all nine provinces in Sri Lanka have been trained to support teacher participants and 501 English language teachers have received specialised training to improve their ability to develop and assess students’ listening and speaking skills in the classroom.
Director of Education (English and Foreign Languages), Ministry of Education Nimali Baduraliya, said: “This Project has helped to improve assessing listening and speaking skills of English teachers in secondary schools. Teachers have benefited through the project and the improved methodology of the teachers will enhance the students’ listening and speaking skills.”
“The unique feature of this project is that it was delivered through the RESCs located island-wide, where RESC trainers have also benefited with skills as mentors—and the continuous and constructive feedback has strengthened the skills of teachers in developing and assessing listening and speaking skills,” she said.
“The initiative taken by HSBC to strengthen teacher capacity development with the British Council is immensely appreciated, since the ultimate beneficiaries of this project are the students who have been provided with opportunities to improve listening and speaking skills, which are fundamental in English communication,” Baduraliya said.
CEO of HSBC Sri Lanka Mark Surgenor said, “We believe that education is the foundation of progress, and the English language is a powerful tool for empowerment. Through our partnership with the British Council and the Ministry of Education, we are proud to have supported teachers in upskilling their English language proficiency, enabling them to better guide and inspire students.”
“By equipping educators with the right tools, we are ensuring that the next generation gains the language skills necessary to enhance their employability and thrive in a globalised market for talent. This initiative reflects our commitment to investing in the future of our communities and fostering long-term economic growth,” he said.
British Council Sri Lanka Country Director Orlando Edwards said: “The British Council, together with HSBC and the Ministry of Education, is proud to see the very positive impact of the ECSRD Project.”
“By equipping mentors with advanced mentoring and assessment skills, we’re ensuring quality English teaching, particularly in rural areas. This initiative aligns with Sri Lanka’s broader education goals, ensuring that the methodologies we introduce are relevant, sustainable, and scalable,” he said.
