H.E. Michel LUMMAUX

Sri Lanka- France Trade Relations  

France takes great pride in its six decade long relationship with Sri Lanka, nurtured and reinforced by strong diplomatic, commercial and cultural presence in this country. Sri Lanka today, is at cross roads: her future holds much potential with the recent military conquest over terrorism. France looks forward to take an active part in this country�s pursuit for the restoration of lost glory and missed opportunities.   

The development of our economic and commercial ties is facilitated by the Economic Service Section of the French Embassy in Colombo for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, under the aegis of the French Ministry of Economy, Industry and Employment in collaboration with other local organisations such as the AFCT (Association of Franco Ceylonese Technologists) and the SLFBC (Sri Lanka France Business Council). AFCT belongs in fact to a worldwide network of technical associations affiliated to UbiFrance, French Agency for International Business Development. AFCT�s contribution has been forthcoming in many ways, especially in facilitating the dissemination of the French technological know-how to Sri Lanka. SLFBC has already been able to organize several important events. During the last few years, the council was successful in organizing trade promotion missions to both Paris and Lyon and welcoming a trade delegation in Colombo.  

Trade between the two countries had witnessed a sturdy growth over the past couple of years in terms of volume and has always included a diversified range of products. Yet it experienced a slump last year in 2008, an inevitable result of global economic slowdown.  Bilateral trade recorded 265 M � in 2008. French exports have decreased by 46 % in 2008 falling to 66,3M �. Sri Lanka�s export to France reached 199 million � in 2008, an increase of 3 %. Over the past years, the increase in the volume of Sri Lanka�s premier export -garments, has considerably contributed to the growth of Sri Lankan exports. This is undoubtedly a consequence of the GSP+ scheme (a comparative advantage for a broad range of Sri Lanka�s exports) granted by the EU. Sri Lanka is the 87^th supplier to France. France claims a substantial portion in the Sri Lankan market in recording, reproduction and transmission apparatus, deriving impetus from the recent mega expansions in the telecommunication sector. France has made a significant contribution to the development of Sri Lanka in the spheres of telecommunication thought world famous French trade names such as Alcatel.    

The total French investments in Sri Lanka add up to around 20 million Euros. Flagship among them is Noyon Lanka Limited, a joint venture started in 2004 between MAS Holding and Noyon Dentelles de Calais. The other principal investments representing French interests in Sri Lanka include those of  two cement giants, Lafarge (Lafarge Suisse) et Ciment Fran�ais (groupe Ital Cimenti), whose investments total up to 10 million USD.  

Since of late, notably after the Tsunami of 2004, France�s involvement in critical infrastructure development has significantly augmented. The tsunami of December 2004 in fact saw the renewal and re-enforcement of the commitment of France to Sri Lanka with a commitment of 112 million Euros. Over the years France has through its concessional aid programme and outside it as well, helped Sri Lanka particularly in the sectors of energy, telecommunications and water supply. At present, France is heavily involved in the power sector. The French company Alstom has embarked on carrying out an extension and improvement on the Laxapana and Wimalasurendra units. Furthermore, G E France was involved in the combined cycle power plant at Kerawalapitiya.  

In addition, France has also been very active in the water supply sector in Sri Lanka, where the French government has in the late 1990s funded the Anuradhapura Water Supply project and is currently funding the extension and the augmentation of the Greater Trincomalee water supply project, under Tsunami rehabilitation support. France also funds a mapping and GIS project (6,2 M�) along the coastal line commencing from Trincomalee down to Galle as a part of the French Government�s continuing commitment to help Sri Lanka in the post tsunami reconstruction efforts. This project would not only provide cartographic material and geographical information systems and corresponding transfer of technology but also accurate spatial information and the statistics & geographical analysis tools to rely upon and used as a valuable starting point to build upon and expand. 

France, within the weeks to come also intends to sign financial protocols for the installation of an IV fluid plant and upgrading several hospitals, including the supply of modular theatres and oxygen concentrators. Together these two projects would add up to 16 million Euros.  

In this light we see that France � Sri Lanka relations, established on a solid base have continued to grow from strength to strength though out the years and France will in turn continue to support Sri Lanka�s endeavours through strong diplomatic ties. The post conflict era will accord our two countries an opportunity to further strengthen our partnership as France looks forward for a constructive role in building a better future for Sri Lanka.

The French Development Agency (AFD) is the French Government�s institution in charge of conducting development projects in partner countries. 

The AFD was created 50 years ago , and is now working in over 70 countries.

Historically, the AFD started working in African countries, but has now extended its operations in all continents. In 2007, the AFD has opened offices in India, Indonesia and Pakistan. In 2009, its operations have been further extended to some South American countries, and in Asia, to Bangladesh and the Philippines 

The type of operations financed by AFD varies according to the situation of the countries. In the poorest countries, mostly in Africa, but also in Afghanistan, the AFD targets poverty reduction by providing basic services (like water, health, education, etc) to the populations in need. 

In these countries, The AFD operates through grants, sometimes using governments� administration, sometimes NGOs to implement projects in the most efficient manner.

In other countries, the AFD operates through loans, mainly to governments, but also through sub-sovereign loans to utilities or the private sector. 

In emerging countries, like most Asian countries, the AFD mainly focuses on the so-called �global public goods�, and contributes to improving energy efficiency to combat climate change, or to preserving biodiversity, or to combatting  pandemics, like the avian flu. 

In Sri Lanka, the context is somewhat different. The AFD came here in 2005, and finances projects which contribute to post-tsunami rehabilitation, and obviously to the global development of the country and the welfare of beneficiary populations.

The AFD has a portfolio of roughly 150 million USD, mainly in the field of infrastructure, and mainly in the Eastern Province.

Together with another � 10 million loan from the French Ministry of Finance, the AFD conducts a project which aims to improve drinking water supply in the Trincomalee district.

The AFD is also financing the reconstruction of the national road A 15, between Trincomalee and Batticaloa. In collaboration with the local authorities, the AFD implements a programme of community development, for the direct benefits of villages in the Eastern Province. Over 200 projects are currently conducted, ranging from the construction of schools and health centres, to little irrigation schemes, or even skills training operations.  

All these projects are financed through soft loans to the Sri Lankan government, under very favourable terms: 1% interest rate, 20 years duration, including a 10 year grace period.

Throughout these programmes, the AFD hopes to contribute to the return to a normal life of populations who have been affected by so many years of conflict, and natural catastrophes, and thus contribute to peace and development. 

In the future, the AFD will extend its activities, beyond post-tsunami reconstruction, in promoting sustainable developments projects through loans to the Government or Government owned companies in various fields of activity. 

HIGHER EDUCATION IN FRANCE

French higher education has a long tradition of openness and accessibility. No distinction is made between French and international students - under French law, the requirements for admission are the same, as are the degrees awarded. The country that coined the phrase human rights rejects all forms of discrimination.

French higher education system, modern and dynamic, trains the leaders of a nation that plays a central role in the worlds of science, business, and culture.

Today France is the world's fourth largest economy and second largest exporter of services. The successes of France's scientists, engineers, and designers are known around the world through Airbus, the TGV (high-speed train), the Ariane rocket, the discovery of the human immune-deficiency virus, high fashion, luxury goods, fine food and wine, and much more.

Whether your speciality is engineering, management, political science, the arts, or the humanities, you, too, can excel in France.

At present, about 190,000 international students (10 percent of French postsecondary enrolments) have chosen France for all or part of their higher education. They enrich the French system with their culture, experience, energy, and accomplishments.

France's 200+ universities and many specialized postsecondary schools are located throughout the country. Large and venerable universities like the Sorbonne are found alongside the modern campuses of leading schools of business and engineering that may enrol no more than a few hundred students in close-knit communities of learning. Specialized schools of a similar size are devoted to art, tourism, health, and many other subjects.

 This broad array of institutions�universities and specialized schools large and small-together offer thousands of degree programs at all levels, extending into every corner of the universe of knowledge.

The quality of the country's educational system is a source of pride for the French people, acting together through their national and regional governments. France devotes fully 20 percent of its annual budget to education. The central government closely monitors the quality of instruction as well as the curricular content of the country's national diplomas. For French and international students alike, the government subsidizes a very large part of the cost of instruction in France's universities and other public institutions.

Studying in France rarely means studying only in France. Many if not most schools have added European components to their programs, offering courses on Europe or internships elsewhere in the European Union. Students have the opportunity to enrich their French experience with new discoveries and experiences.

Not surprisingly, most courses in France are taught in French, a language spoken by more than 200 million people in 50 countries. But you'll have ample opportunities to learn or practice other European languages - English, in particular. Advanced English is taught in many programs, especially in business and engineering.

France is an ideal place for the student who wants to explore Europe. It's easy, really easy, to reach most of Europe's important cities (plus hundreds not so important but still worth the trip). Amsterdam, London, Berlin, Brussels, Barcelona, Munich or Milan - all await you for the weekend or for a longer stay.

L�Alliance Fran�aise :  Oui je parle fran�ais ! 

A lot of people ask about l�Alliance Fran�aise because they are not sure of the nature of this 55 years old institution in Sri Lanka: they wonder if it is a private club or an international school or maybe a foreign cultural centre.

 As a matter of fact, there is much more to it: the five centers of l�Alliance Fran�aise in Sri Lanka are national non profit associations which so far have received their label from the Fondation Alliance Fran�aise in Paris and the material support and cooperation of the French State since their objectives are to diffuse French language and culture.

 Not only that! L�Alliance Fran�aise, wherever it operates, is also a meeting place for intercultural relationships between all good wills interested in sharing a common vision of linguistic and cultural diversity, open to all regardless of their racial, religious, political or social background.

 L� Alliance Fran�aise in Sri Lanka, as is the case in all 124 countries where it is present with more than 1200 centers, represents a rare, original and friendly �alliance� between both French and Sri Lankan cultures: not only can you learn French thru a very wide range of classes for children and adults but you can discover French and francophone cultures in Colombo, Kandy, Matara , Galle and Jaffna, thanks to our network of schools and  �m�diath�ques�and our cultural programmes.

Moreover, you will experience that our 5 Alliances in the country are deeply rooted in the island�s cultures: Sri Lankan artist are welcome to exhibit or perform on our compounds and, along with the help of the French Embassy and some universities, we have translated and edited in Sinhala and in Tamil over the years more than 14 titles of classical and contemporary French literature.

Our teachers, Sri Lankan and French native speakers, are all qualified in teaching French as a Foreign Language and we prepare for the international examinations DELF and DALF, according to European standards.

More and more students are now coming to us to learn the language, not only because of its romantic reputation, but because speaking French is a plus if you want to study in France where higher public education is free and offers excellent quality in a wide range of qualifications. It is a very good option for an international professional career since one should know France is the sixth international economy and French speaking people topple over two hundred millions worldwide!.

Association of Franco-Ceylonese Technologists

Presidents Message

Association of Franco-Ceylonese Technologists- The Technology Exchange Link between France & Sri Lanka 

The Association of Franco-Ceylonese Technologists sends its heartiest greetings to the celebration of the French National Day, on 14^th July 2009.  

The Association of Franco-Ceylonese Technologists (AFCT) was founded in 1958 and more than 50 years in the business of transferring of Technology between France and Sri Lanka. Our membership comprises Ministers, high ranking Public & Private sector officials in the fields of Aviation, Transport and Highways, Water supply and Sanitation, Power Generation and Transmission and others.  

We are proud to be one of the oldest Ubifrance (formerly ACTIM) clubs in the world and celebrated our Golden Jubilee in 2008. 

The Association of Franco-Ceylonese Technologists has been continuously active since its inception in furthering ties between Sri Lanka and  France and especially in Exchanging Technical know-how. We have been instrumental in introducing new technological developments in France to Sri Lanka by way of organizing seminars, technical presentations, video presentations, technical and field visits. The French Firms who were interested in operations in Sri Lanka have been found our association as the very important link to obtain Sri Lankan condition on Technology from our well experienced and learned membership. 

The membership of the association is open to Graduate Engineers and Technologists who are interested in French technologies. Business firms engaged in business with partners in France are also eligible for membership as business firm members.  

The members of the association have made an immense contribution to the activities that strengthened the ties between France & Sri Lanka. They have contributed their time and resources immensely to make these events a success. My thanks go out to them.  I also take this opportunity to thank our Vice Patron, Mr. Bruno Viviez, Economic and Commercial Counsellor of France in Sri Lanka, for his able guidance, advice and untiring support. My special thanks to HE Michel Lummaux for the encouragements to furtherance of our activities, for his advice for gracing all important occasions as Chief Guest/ Guest of Honour amidst his busy schedule. 

   Eng. J Karunaratne,  President, AFCT

French Language in Sri Lanka

Teaching of French in the island of Sri Lanka dates back to the British colonial era as French was considered the elite language at that time. It was then limited to a few private educational institutions but now the Ministry of Education has introduced this �elite� language to the national curriculum and it is the first foreign language taught in Sri Lankan schools both national and international.

The French language is offered as a subject by approximately one thousand students at the local Ordinary Level and by five hundred students at the Advanced Level examinations. International school candidates� number increases every year as more and more students offer French at Cambridge and Edexel examinations, mainly in O Level and a lesser number in A Level.

The Sri Lankan Universities of Kelaniya, Peradeniya, Sri Jayawardenapura, Jaffna and Ruhuna offer the choice of French Language, Literature and Civilization. Undergraduates interested in obtaining a Special Degree in French can do so at the University of Kelaniya in 4 years. �Fran�ais sur Objectif Sp�cifique� such as Tourism, Hotel Trade, and Business modules are available at the University of Sri Jayawardenapura.

The Ministry of Education of Sri Lanka, wishing to promote the teaching of foreign languages in the National Schools, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the French Embassy in Colombo in 2006 which facilitated the special training of 35 French Language Teachers at the Pasdunrata National College of Education.  These young teachers are presently teaching French in State schools in the country. The present Ambassador of France His Excellency Michel Lummaux expressly continues his support by having signed a renewed MOU with the Ministry of Education to offer services of visiting Teacher Trainers from France to assist in the development of curriculum and to provide further teacher training at the College of Education. The second batch of 27 prospective French language teachers is currently being trained.

 A. P. F. 

The French Teachers� Association has been in existence in Sri Lanka since 1980. It is a professional organization affiliated to the Embassy of France and is the only Association of teachers of French in the country. Since 2006 the APF, as it is popularly known, is a member of the FIPF, the International Federation of French Teachers, which has its head office in Paris. More than 70 Sri Lankan Teachers of French Language are members of this association. This number will exceed very soon when the teacher trainees at Pasdunrata NCOE get their permanent appointments in public schools in the island. The members regularly attend seminars and workshops conducted in order to improve their teaching skills. The APF occasionally has recourse to specialized French National Teacher Trainers who visit Sri Lanka to enhance further the teaching standards of its members. The French Government allocates an annual grant to help this association�s activities. 

ASSOCIATION DES PROFESSEURS DE FRAN�AIS  A SRI LANKA
11 Barnes Place, Colombo 7.  
[email protected]

After being operational for almost two years, the �Spatial Information Infrastructure for Reconstruction Monitoring� (SIIRM), will end up next September and this short article presents a synthesis of the project achievements.

Financed by France, this 6.2 millions euro loan has been designed to answer the strong post-tsunami demands for spatial information and urban planning tools. SIIRM benefits primarily to the Urban Development Authority and the Survey Department but project outputs, maps, information, will also profit to a large audience of governmental and non-governmental organisations.

The project is managed by a Consortium made of Groupe FIT, FIT Conseil and National Institute of Geographic (IGN) France International and covers four different fields: Mapping, geographic information system (GIS) applications, Training and IT Equipment.

Mapping

The mapping component is ambitious by the quality level required for geographical information, the variety of products and the covered area:

The complete coverage of the Eastern and the Southern provinces of high resolution satellite ortho-images (126 images), with an accuracy close to aerial photos (pixel 60 cm) has been completed,

9 townships, Trincomalee, Kinniya, Valachchenai/Kakuda, Matara, Kalmunai, Hambantota, Mutur, Batticaloa and Pottuvil totalising 500 km2 have been inventoried (6,000 map-sheets) in the field and mapped at 1: 5,000 providing numerous information for urban planners,

GIS Applications

GIS Applications are fundamental outputs of SIIRM. The Urban Development Authority (UDA) Geoportal is the first web site in Sri Lanka dedicated to the sharing of geographic and spatial information with the public through a secured internet access. The Housing Reconstruction Tracking System provides maps and information over all reconstruction sites of the Southern and Eastern provinces. The Multi-Risk Mapping Assessment allows analysing impacts of natural risks such as tsunami, sea level rising, storm surges, coastal erosion and flooding over the two project provinces. The Township Urban Management is an urban planner tool based upon the richness of the 1: 5,000 geodatabase. Other GIS applications will allow decision makers to determine appropriate sites for reconstruction, exploit census and population data and compare the pre and post-tsunami land cover situations.

Training

Trainings sessions were regularly completed all along the project timeframe about data acquisition, GPS, ArcGIS uses and geodatabase management. GIS application trainings include urban planning and management professional aspects. Training also encompasses technical architecture domain, network management and data exchange policy.

Technical Architecture

The technical architecture installed in UDA deal with all aspects of managing, storing and securing large amounts of spatial and geographical data. The complex architecture mixing hardware (Web server, data servers, firewall, UPS) and software (ArcGIS 9.2) constitutes the most advanced operational GIS solution in Sri Lanka.

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