US signs MoU with Sri Lanka for Peace Corps to teach English

by Thusiyan
Aug 10, 2018

Photograph: @HiltyBob

The United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Education that will see US Peace Corps come and teach English on the island.

“The Peace Corps has a long history of partnership with the people of Sri Lanka, and I am honored to be here today to formally confirm our commitment,” said Peace Corps/Sri Lanka Country Director Kris Besch, as she signed the MoU in Colombo.

“I look forward to collaboration with the Ministry of Education, local schools and community partners as we develop our program, create new success stories and strengthen our long history of respect, partnership and friendship.”

The US had shut down the Peace Corps program in 1998 due to “political instability”, though Peace Corps have intermittently returned since.

“Let me welcome the Peace Corps back to Sri Lanka and once again thank our Sri Lankan partners for working with us in this great endeavor," said US Chargé d’Affaires to Sri Lanka and Robert Hilton.

The first 25 Peace Corps volunteers are scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka in late 2019.

The re-establishment of the program comes amidst growing military ties between the United States and Sri Lanka.

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