1. Background and Rationale
Sri Lanka has a long-standing commitment to
strengthening English language proficiency as a national development priority.
Despite numerous reforms, pilot programs, and donor-supported initiatives, much
of the existing research on English Language Teaching (ELT) in the country
remains fragmented, small-scale, or descriptive. Key areas such as classroom
practices, pedagogical innovation, teacher cognition, learner engagement, and program
evaluation lack sustained, systematic investigation.
At the same time, the rapid expansion of global ELT
research, encompassing digital learning, task-based approaches, assessment
literacy, multilingual education, and teacher professional development, has not
been fully localized to the Sri Lankan context. There is therefore a clear
national need for a dedicated, independent research institute capable of
generating rigorous empirical evidence, informing policy, supporting teacher
development, and serving as a hub for scholarly and practitioner engagement in
ELT.
2. Vision
To be Sri Lanka’s leading private centre for
high-quality research, innovation, and policy development in English language
teaching, contributing meaningfully to national educational transformation and
global ELT knowledge.
3. Mission
To conduct systematic, contextually grounded, and internationally informed research in English language teaching and learning; to support evidence-based decision-making in schools, universities, and training institutions; and to enhance teacher and learner outcomes across Sri Lanka.
4. Objectives
- Generate
empirical research on ELT processes, learner outcomes, classroom
practices, and teacher development.
- Develop and
evaluate pedagogical models tailored to Sri Lankan school and tertiary
contexts.
- Provide
policy-relevant insights for ministries, NGOs, development agencies, and
private-sector education providers.
- Offer
professional development programmes based on research evidence (non-formal
CPD).
- Produce
high-quality publications, including research reports, policy briefs,
teacher guides, and academic articles.
- Establish
national and international partnerships with universities and research
bodies.
- Create a
data repository of ELT trends, interventions, and outcomes to support
longitudinal research.
5. Core Research Themes
A. Pedagogy & Classroom Practice
- Task-Based
Language Teaching (TBLT)
- Process-genre
approaches in writing
- Communicative
language teaching in large classes
- Teaching
English for Academic Purposes (EAP)
B. Teacher Development
- Teacher
beliefs and cognition
- Assessment
literacy
- Continuous
professional development models
- Digital
pedagogy in teacher training
C. Learner-Centred Research
- English
proficiency development pathways
- Motivation
and affective factors
- Learner
autonomy and strategy use
- Rural–urban
achievement gaps
D. Programme & Policy Evaluation
- Effectiveness
of national English programmes
- School-based
intervention studies
- TVET English
curriculum reviews
- Monitoring
and evaluation for donor-funded ELT projects
E. Innovation & Digital Technologies
- Text-to-speech
and AI-assisted learning
- Mobile-assisted
language learning
- Digital
materials and microlearning for ELT
- AI-based
formative assessment systems
6. Proposed Activities
Research
- Large-scale
national needs assessments
- Classroom-based
action research networks
- Controlled
intervention studies
- Longitudinal
tracking of learner outcomes
Capacity Building
- Workshops
for teachers, trainers, and administrators
- Research
methodology training for postgraduate students
- Mentoring
for early-career ELT researchers
Knowledge Dissemination
- Publication
of working papers, monographs, and reports
- Annual Sri
Lanka ELT Research Conference
- Policy
roundtables with ministries and agencies
- Open-access
research briefs and data sets
Partnerships
- MoUs with
universities (local & international)
- Collaborations
with British Council, USAID, ADB, and Commonwealth bodies
- Support for
school-based “research-friendly” environments
7. Institutional Structure
Governing Board
- Education
experts, university academics, policy specialists, and industry
professionals.
Executive Team
- Director
- Research
Manager
- Finance
& Administration Manager
- Partnerships
& Outreach Officer
Research Units
- ELT Pedagogy
& Curriculum Unit
- Teacher
Education & Professional Development Unit
- Assessment,
Testing & Evaluation Unit
- Digital ELT
Innovation Unit
- Policy &
Impact Analysis Unit
8. Legal and Operational Model
The institute may be established as a non-profit
research organisation in Sri Lanka. This allows:
- Operating as
a non-profit research institute
- Receiving
local and international grants
- Conducting
research contracts
- Running
non-formal CPD programmes
- Partnering
with government and international bodies
No degree-awarding status is required unless the
institute later chooses to offer formal academic qualifications.
9. Expected Impact
- Strengthened
evidence base for nationwide ELT reform
- Enhanced
teacher capability through research-driven CPD
- Improved
learner outcomes through tested pedagogical models
- Increased
alignment between policy decisions and classroom realities
- Establishment
of Sri Lanka as a regional hub for ELT research
- Publication
of high-quality local research contributing to global scholarship
10. Potential Funding Sources
- Government
agencies and provincial education authorities
- International
donors (British Council, UNESCO, ADB, USAID, EU)
- University
and school partnerships
- Corporate
CSR initiatives
- Contract
research and consultancy services
- Public–private
partnerships
Lanka Institute for English Language Teaching
Research (LIELTR)
1. Strategic
Vision
To establish LIELTR as Sri Lanka’s leading centre
for ELT research, professional development, and policy engagement, generating
high-impact knowledge that directly improves English teaching and learning
nationwide.
2. Core Strategic
Pillars
Pillar 1:
Research Excellence
Establish robust systems to conduct high-quality,
ethically sound, and internationally recognized ELT research.
Pillar 2:
Capacity Building
Strengthen teacher, trainer, and researcher
competences through research-informed professional development.
Pillar 3: Policy
Influence
Serve as a trusted, non-partisan advisor providing
timely, evidence-based recommendations to government and educational
institutions.
Pillar 4:
Partnerships & Collaboration
Build strong national and global networks to enhance
credibility, funding opportunities, and scholarly impact.
Pillar 5: Research
Excellence - Peer-Reviewed Academic Journal Development
LIELTR will establish a high-quality, peer-reviewed
international journal to disseminate ELT research from Sri Lanka and abroad.
The journal will:
- Welcome
submissions from local and foreign researchers.
- Follow
rigorous blind peer-review standards.
- Maintain
strong academic and ethical publishing practices.
- Prioritise research relevant to global and South Asian ELT contexts.
Indexing Goal
Within the first 3–5 years, the journal will seek
indexing in:
- Scopus
- Web of
Science (ESCI → SCI/SSCI)
- Google
Scholar
- ERIC
- CrossRef DOI
registration
- Directory of
Open Access Journals (DOAJ)
This positions the institute as a recognized
scholarly centre with international visibility.
Pillar 6: Institutional Sustainability
Ensure strong governance, funding diversification,
staff development, and operational stability.
Year-by-Year Plan
Year 1 (2026):
Foundation and Credibility
Objectives
- Establish
the institute legally and operationally.
- Build
initial visibility and academic credibility.
- Launch the
flagship research project.
Key Activities
- Register the
institute as a Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG).
- Form the Governing
Board and Advisory Council.
- Recruit core
staff (Director, Research Manager, Admin Officer).
- Develop
institutional policies:
- Research
ethics guidelines
- Financial
procedures
- Human
resource policies
- Launch
Flagship Project #1 (detailed in section C).
- Sign MoUs
with at least:
- 2 Sri
Lankan universities
- 2
provincial education authorities
- 1
international partner (British Council/UNESCO/ASEAN TEFL body)
- Host the Inaugural
National ELT Research Symposium.
- Produce
first publications:
- 1 working
paper
- 1 policy
brief
- 1 teacher resource booklet
Expected Outcomes
- The
institute is fully operational.
- Recognised
within the Sri Lankan ELT ecosystem.
- Initial
datasets and findings from the flagship project.
Year 2 (2027):
Expansion and Consolidation
Objectives
- Broaden
research activities.
- Demonstrate
value to government, schools, and universities.
- Strengthen
funding streams.
- Form
Editorial Board (local + international scholars)
- Develop a journal website and submission system (OJS recommended)
- Publish
Volume 1, Issue 1
Key Activities
- Conduct
three additional research projects:
- Classroom
pedagogy/innovation study
- Teacher
assessment literacy study
- Digital ELT
tools feasibility study
- Launch annual
CPD workshop series (non-formal).
- Publish:
- 3 research
reports
- 3 policy
briefs
- 2 journal
articles
- Apply for
competitive grants (British Council, ADB, EU, USAID).
- Host the Second
National ELT Research Conference with international speakers.
- Expand
partnerships to:
- NGOs (Save
the Children, World Vision, UNICEF)
- Universities
in Asia (Malaysia, Thailand, India)
Expected Outcomes
- National-level
visibility and credibility.
- Growing
repository of local ELT research.
- Sustainable
annual budget through mixed funding.
Year 3 (2028):
Impact and Sustainability
Objectives
- Become a
recognised national advisory body on ELT.
- Establish
financial sustainability.
- Disseminate
major research findings at national and international levels.
- Publish two
issues annually
- Apply for
Google Scholar & DOAJ indexing.
- Begin
preparation for Scopus pre-evaluation.
Key Activities
- Scale up the
flagship project to additional provinces.
- Launch the LIELTR
Journal of English Language Teaching Research.
- Release a National
ELT Trends Report based on three years of data.
- Host
international conference: Sri Lanka ELT Futures Summit.
- Publish:
- 1 edited
book
- 4
peer-reviewed articles
- Annual
Policy Outlook for ELT Reform
- Establish a Teacher
Research Grants Scheme for school/university teachers.
- Secure 3–5
long-term MoUs with foreign universities.
Expected Outcomes
- LIELTR is recognised as the national hub for ELT research.
- Strong
policy influence backed by empirical evidence.
- Sustainable institutional funding and growth trajectory.
Director’s Message
Director, Lanka Institute for English Language Teaching Research (LIELTR)
It is with great honor that I welcome you to the
Lanka Institute for English Language Teaching Research (LIELTR). Our institute
was founded with a clear purpose: to strengthen English language education in
Sri Lanka through rigorous research, innovative pedagogy, and meaningful
professional development. In an increasingly interconnected world, the role of
English as a tool for academic growth, professional advancement, and social
mobility has never been more vital. LIELTR stands committed to advancing this
national priority with integrity, scholarship, and long-term vision.
At LIELTR, we believe that sustainable improvement
in English language teaching requires more than isolated initiatives. It
requires evidence-based practice, collaboration across sectors,
and the creation of a robust ecosystem where teachers, researchers,
policymakers, and institutions work together. Our mission is to serve as Sri
Lanka’s central hub for English language teaching research, producing
knowledge, shaping policy, building capacity, and inspiring innovation.
The institute’s work spans several key areas:
- conducting
research that reflects local realities while meeting global standards,
- developing
teacher expertise through high-impact professional learning,
- offering
academic programs that prepare future educators,
- publishing
journals and reports that contribute to regional and international scholarships,
- and creating
partnerships with universities, institutes, and organizations in Sri Lanka
and abroad.
We are particularly proud to embed Sri Lankan
identity, our heritage, languages, and educational aspirations, into every
aspect of our work. The Ola leaf motif in our branding symbolizes this
connection to scholarship, continuity, and cultural memory. It reflects our
belief that modern language education must remain rooted in our traditions
while being responsive to future demands.
As we embark on this journey, I invite teachers,
academics, researchers, students, and institutional partners to join us.
Whether through participating in our research projects, attending our training programs,
submitting to our peer-reviewed journal, or collaborating on national and
international initiatives, your involvement enriches our collective mission.
Thank you for visiting my blog and for your
interest in LIELTR's work. With your support, we aim to elevate English
language teaching in Sri Lanka, empower educators, and contribute meaningfully
to global knowledge in the field of applied linguistics.
Together, let us build a future where English
language education in Sri Lanka is equitable, innovative, and globally
connected.
Warm regards,
Dr. Sarath Withanarachchi Samaranayake
Director
Lanka Institute for English Language Teaching Research (LIELTR)
Email: sarathsamaranayake41@gmail.com
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