Our history
The Postgraduate Institute of English (PGIE) was established at the Open University of Sri Lanka by the University Grants Commission under the Universities Act No 16 of 1978. The establishment of this institution by the UGC underscored the importance of English as a language of academic and national importance. The PGIE was, in fact, set up as a result of far-reaching reforms that sought to improve the quality and scope of English education in the country. One of the major thrusts of these reforms was the strengthening of English language teaching and learning so that educational and employment opportunities could be extended among all levels of Sri Lankan society, and also a recognition of the fact that neglect of English and English teaching over two decades since the 1960s had led to impoverishment across all branches of learning. This neglect had affected university and tertiary level students in particular, and thus impinged on the development of the country as a whole. In 2004 therefore, the Standing Committee on English, a committee that included Heads of university English Units, proposed that an institution should be set up to enhance the development of English teachers and to be, among other things, national centre of excellence for training and professionalism in English Teaching.
The PGIE was therefore established in December 2005 at the Open University of Sri Lanka, to take advantage of the mode of Distance Education that this university practised. It was felt that using Distance Education techniques would permit the institution to reach out to teachers across the island in a manner that was not possible through conventional means. In 2006, Professor Ryhana Raheem, Professor of English at the Open University was appointed founder Director of the PGIE.
The PGIE today
Currently we conduct four MA and PG.Dip programmes at the PGIE:
The PGIE also entertains applications for research degrees (Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy) throughout the year.
We also conduct a variety of courses in English as continuing professional education, and workshops and short courses related to English and the teaching of English, including:
• Academic Writing and Research Methods in the Humanities and Social Sciences
• Qualitative Data Analysis
• Teaching GCE Advanced Level Literature
• Teaching GCE Ordinary Level Literature
• Testing and Evaluation in ELT
More details on these programmes and short courses are available in the ‘Programmes’ section.
Members of the Boards of Management – PGIE
| Dr. Romola Rassool | Chairperson, Director/PGIE |
| Mr. S.K. Senevirathna | Additional Secretary/ Ministry of Education |
| Dr. N.K. Abeysekara | Head/Department of Language Studies, OUSL |
| Prof. L.R. Jayasekera | Professor Emeritus/ Dept. of Plant and Molecular Biology/University of Kelaniya |
| Snr. Prof. Neloufer de Mel | Senior Professor in English (Chair)/ University of Colombo |
| Prof. J. Manatunga | Professor/ Dept. of Civil Engineering/ University of Moratuwa |
| Prof. Neluka Silva | Dept. of English/ University of Colombo |
| Dr. M. Lalith Ananda | Former Head/ Dept. of English, Uni. of Sri Jayewardenepura |
| Ms. P. Nagasundaram | Former Head/ Dept. of English, Uni. of Sri Jayewardenepura |
| Prof. C.E. Gunaratne | Head/ Dept. of Legal Studies/ OUSL |
| Dr. H. Ratwatte | Senior Lecturer/ Department of Language Studies/ OUSL – Member- BOS/ TLSC |
| Ms. M.I. Jansz | Senior Lecturer/PGIE – Member- BOS/ TLSC |
| Dr. Upali Sedara | Rector/ Sri Lanka International Buddhist Academy |
| Deshabandu Prof. M.A.D.S.J.S. Niriella | Dean/ Faculty of Criminal Justice/ GSJKDU |
| Dr. Darshana Samaraweera | Deputy Director General/ NIE |
| Mr. H.M.C.K. Herath | Assistant Director/ Dept. of Fiscal Policy/ General Treasury |
Members of the PGIE Board of Study for Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)
| Dr. Romola Rassool | Chair, Director/PGIE |
| Ms. R. Amarasekera | Acting Librarian/OUSL |
| Prof. H.S. Rambukwella | Professor/PGIE |
| Dr. H.D. Wijesekera | Senior Lecturer/PGIE |
| Mrs. M.I. Jansz | Senior Lecturer/PGIE |
| Ms. L. K. Cumaranatunge | Visiting Academic/MA in TESL, |
| Dr. P.M.K. Perera | Senior Lecturer/Dept. of English, University of Colombo |
| Dr. N.K. Abeysekara | Head/Dept. Of Language Studies, OUSL |
| Dr. V.V. Medawattegedara | Senior lecturer/Dept. of Language Studies, OUSL |
| Ms. P. Nanayakkara | Former Director of Bilingual Education, Ministry of Education |
Members of the PGIE Board of Study for Teaching Literature in a Second Language Context (TLSC)
| Dr. Ramola Rassool | Chair, Director/PGIE |
| Ms. R. Amarasekera | Acting Librarian/OUSL |
| Prof. H.S. Rambukwella | Professor/PGIE |
| Dr. H.D. Wijesekera | Senior Lecturer/PGIE |
| Mrs. M.I. Jansz | Senior Lecturer/PGIE |
| Dr. D. Devendra | Senior Lecturer/Dept. of Language Studies, OUSL |
| Dr. H.V.M. Ratwatte | Senior Lecturer/Dept. of Language Studies, OUSL |
| Dr. P. Manuratne | Head/Dept. of English, Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya |
| Dr. R.M.C. Jayatilake | Head/Dept. of English and Linguistics, University of Sri Jayewardenepura |
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