Abstract:
Over the past decade, many Sri Lankan universities have shifted to offering English as
a medium of instruction in their degree courses. Furthermore, several sub sections of
these universities have made the English stream compulsory for all students. This paper
will analyse how students have been affected by these shifts in policy, and whether these
changes are helping advance the goals that were outlined when implementing them.
Research has shown that in many developing countries, a strong correlation exists
between external funding and English language policy changes (Brock-utne, 2002), and
that many of these shifts are often fueled by external pressure (Phillipson, 2001) and are
made without a satisfactory understanding of the mechanics of language acquisition. This
paper will examine the circumstances surrounding policy changes in the departments being
studied, and compare the goals of these initiatives with the results they actually deliver.
Specifically, this paper will focus on the new English language policies of the Faculty of
Commerce and Management of the University of Kelaniya, and attempt to analyse how
effective they have been in helping undergraduates switch over to the English medium. In
order to do so, this project will use both qualitative and quantitative research, including
questionnaires, interviews with members of faculty and an analysis of student grades.
