English Day

Day 5 Exodus 1:1 - Exodus 14:24

Day 6 Exodus 14:25 - Exodus 28:15

At first it seems quite odd to have a day dedicated to 'English' until you realise that for most of the students this is at least a second language if not a third, and it's hugely important to them. Indeed for some it's the route to further study as many universities require English at some level.

So today the college welcomed the team of local ladies who teach the English lessons, and through song, drama, and public speaking they provided an afternoon's entertainment, we were serenaded to Rivers of Babylon and the dilemma that beheld Henri and Liza and a leaky water container. Two home written sketches that carried a moral message and the whole affair was rounded off in true form with the awards and certificates of achievement, followed by refreshment - can't wait it's cake and sandwiches!

Of course these aren't cake and sandwiches, but I was too busy stocking up to take a real one.

Evening supper conversation surrounded the question of fair wages for those working in the tea plantations.

In 1815, the population of Ceylon numbered about three million predominantly Buddhist Sinhalese and 300,000 mostly Hindu Tamils. The British established huge cash crop plantations on the island, first of coffee, and later of rubber and tea. Colonial officials brought in approximately a million Tamil speakers from India to work as plantation labour. 

The work is hard in mountainous regions, colder weather where the constant plucking of tea leaves has effects on hands and fingers. 

The argument I'm told surrounds the daily wage, where the plantation workers on 750R per day, seek parity with similar workers on 1000R or 1500R /day.

The conversations are always animated. 

Today would you pray for students

Renuka

Niomy

Luke

Edwin

Dilushan

Rosa

Rathnasiri

Surendar