British Council Sri Lanka Expands Professional Learning with New Soft Skills Workshops
The British Council Sri Lanka has launched its Corporate English Solutions (CES) programme, introducing a new suite of learning and development opportunities designed to strengthen workplace communication, professional skills and organisational performance.
The launch event, held recently at the NH Collection Colombo, brought together corporate partners, clients and education-sector stakeholders from across the country. The initiative represents an expansion of the British Council’s longstanding work in English language education and teacher development, extending its expertise to a wider corporate and public audience.
Corporate English Solutions has been specifically developed to address the evolving communication and professional development needs of Sri Lanka’s corporate and education sectors. As part of the launch, the British Council introduced two key components — public workshops and teacher training programmes — making selected learning opportunities accessible beyond its existing corporate and academic partnerships.
Welcoming guests at the event, Talal Meer, Regional Business Development Director, South Asia, British Council, outlined the objectives of the new initiative and provided an overview of the organisation’s CES product portfolio. He also highlighted the importance of communication skills in complementing technical expertise within today’s professional environment.
“Every organisation has invested in three things; skills, systems and strategy. But how many have invested in communication skill? Technical skills gets you hired but communication skills gets you promoted,” Meer said.
The new public workshops were introduced by Nimanthi Yatawara, Account Manager – English & Exams, British Council, who explained that the programmes are intended to broaden access to professional learning opportunities for individuals at different levels and from diverse backgrounds.
The launch also featured a client testimonial by Nalin Perera, Deputy General Manager – Talent Development, Sri Lanka Telecom, who shared insights into the impact of British Council programmes on organisational development and the professional growth of employees.
A key highlight of the evening was the keynote session, “Communicating with Executive Presence,” delivered by British Council trainer Fazla Razak. With more than 15 years of experience in English language teaching, Razak is also an IELTS Examiner, Cambridge English Presenter and certified LEGO® Serious Play® facilitator.
The session focused on practical approaches to developing confidence, clarity and executive presence in professional communication, highlighting the role of effective communication in leadership and workplace success.
The formal proceedings concluded with a networking session over high tea, allowing participants to engage with British Council representatives, speakers and fellow professionals while exploring potential opportunities for collaboration in learning and development.
The launch of Corporate English Solutions marks a strategic expansion of the British Council’s presence in Sri Lanka’s professional learning landscape. While the organisation has traditionally supported students, educators and academic institutions, CES aims to extend these capabilities to a broader network of corporate organisations and individual learners.
Through its new workshops and training programmes, the British Council seeks to support professionals and organisations in developing communication capabilities that can contribute to stronger workplace performance, career progression and long-term organisational excellence.
The initiative reinforces the British Council’s broader commitment to developing future-ready skills in Sri Lanka, with communication positioned as a critical component of professional growth and organisational success.