The Confucius Institute proudly held the Certificate Awarding Ceremony for the 25th Batch of its Chinese Language Course, alongside the inauguration of the new batch, on February 28th, 2025, at 3:00 PM, at the K14 Auditorium, Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya. This special event marks a significant achievement, with 50 students completing the course successfully, and nearly 100 new students enrolling for the newly started batch on March 1st, 2025.
The ceremony was honored by the presence of Dr. Sudath Senarath, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Kelaniya, and Ven. Senior Prof. Nadalagamuwe Dhammadinna Thero, Head of the Department of Modern Languages at the University of Kelaniya, as the Chief Guests. The event also welcomed Honorable Guests; Co-Directors of China and Sri Lanka, accordingly Dr. Wu Hongyuan and Dr. Jani Samarakoon who is also the Course Coordinator.
Dr. Jani Samarakoon opened the ceremony by welcoming the students and highlighting the two key goals of the event: celebrating the achievements of the 25th Batch and introducing the exciting language learning journey for the new batch. She also expressed gratitude to the hardworking staff of the Confucius Institute, whose efforts have made the weekend Chinese language courses a success. In her speech, Dr. Samarakoon thanked the Vice Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, Senior Prof. Nilanthi de Silva, as well as, Head of the Department of Modern Languages, Ven. Senior Prof. Nadalagamuwe Dhammadinna Thero and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Dr. Sudath Senarath for their continuous support in the work of the Confucius Institute. She concluded by introducing the dedicated staff to the new students and wishing them success in their language learning journey. Following Dr. Samarakoon’s speech, one of the Chief Guests, Dr. Sudath Senarath, congratulated the students who were about to receive their certificates. He also extended a warm welcome to the new batch, offering valuable advice on learning a foreign language, particularly Chinese, which is known for being a tonal language. Dr. Senarath commended the outstanding work of the Confucius Institute, recognizing it as one of the leading institutions in providing a rich cultural and social experience through Chinese language education for nearly three decades. He concluded his speech by expressing his hopes for the continued flourishing and strengthening of the bond of friendship between China and Sri Lanka.
The next Chief Guest, Ven. Senior Prof. Nadalagamuwe Dhammadinna Thero, Head of the Department of Modern Languages, delivered an insightful speech on the importance of learning Chinese Language. He emphasized that in today’s globalized world, knowing a foreign language like Chinese not only opens doors to vast career opportunities but also fosters deeper cultural understanding. Ven. Senior Prof. Dhammadinna highlighted that Chinese, being one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, is key to connecting with the rich history, culture, and economic growth of China.
Dr. Wu Hongyuan, Co-Director of the China to Sri Lanka of Confucius institute, then delivered an encouraging speech urging students to work hard, support each other, and focus on both personal and academic growth. He praised the Confucius Institute as a place where students can not only improve their language skills but also develop as individuals. Dr. Wu emphasized the importance of teamwork and creating a supportive environment for success, while also highlighting the institute’s role in providing students with opportunities to explore Chinese culture and build valuable life skills.
After the inspiring speeches from the chief guests, the next segment of the event was truly engaging. Five students from the 25th Batch—Tharushi Dodangoda, Kavithaki Peiris, Hansamali Pelenegama, Dulanjalee Madushani, and Sasini Ruwanthika—shared their personal experiences of learning Chinese and how the course helped them develop their language skills. It was a special moment, as these students volunteered to speak at the event without hesitation. Their confidence in speaking Chinese in front of an audience, despite it not being their native language, showcased the hard work they had put into learning. It also highlighted the effectiveness of the Certificate Course in Chinese Language and the dedication of the teachers, who had helped build their confidence in speaking Chinese fluently and comfortably in public.
Afterwards, the certificates were presented by the Chief Guests, Honorable Guests, and lecturers, with special prizes awarded to the top three students who achieved the best results in the Final Examination across the Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Levels. Following this, the National Anthems of Sri Lanka and China were sung, officially concluding the event. A group photo was taken, as seen in the published photographs. Finally, we would like to congratulate all the students who received their certificates today and warmly welcome all the newly enrolled students to begin their journey of learning the Chinese language with us.
As you embark on your learning journey, we wish you the best of luck and remember, “千里之行，始于足下 (Qiānlǐ zhī xíng, shǐ yú zú xià)” – A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step!
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