From ---- Austin Perera Ph D 9 Dillenia Road Colombo 8
Tel 695358 '075-523863
to ------ Dr Jayanthi Peiris Secretary Ministry of Education Isurupaya, Battaramulla
Post of Director/ English and Modem languages Unit

Dear Dr Peiris

I heard that you were looking for somebody to set up an English and modem languages unit in your ministry. This is

an application for that position

I am a retired public officer, formerly of the SLAS. The last position I held was that of National Coordinator for English

from 1986-89. This post was created by a Cabinet decision, in order to implement the "-English link language"

provision in the Indo Ceylon pact of 1987 and the subsequent amendment to the SL constitution Though I was paid

by the Education Ministry, I worked in the UGC and set up the English unit there, which organized and ran the

General English Language Teaching (GELT) program, on a countrywide basis, including centers in Jaffna, Mannar

and Mullativu. This program is still on-going.

I retired from the SEAS in 1989 and became a student in the English department of Southern Illinois University at

Carbondale, in USA, from 1989 to 1993 During this period I also taught American undergraduates English

composition and literature, as a teaching assistant. I obtained a Ph D, in English, majoring in literature with minors in

linguistics (ESL) and creative writing (fiction.)

I taught English, economics and management at the Institute of Technological Studies (an American style---

"community college") in Colombo 5 from 1993 August to July 1997 From December 1997 I worked as Senior

Consultant in the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA) and set up the Diploma in English

program for public and private sector executives. This program is in its 4th yew.I continue to work at SLIDA but not

as a full time employee,

I understand that it may be possible to consider a retired public officer for this position, either as a contract person,

or by sponsoring someone suitable, for appointment as a national consultant of the UNDP The second option is a

way out if the first option is not available The UNDP national consultant could function as the designated functionary

in the SL organization. I hope you will not resent this unsolicited advice.

Yours faithfully

Austin Perera

15/02/2001
