The Alliance Francaise, back on its feet and stronger than ever

Founded in 1954, with the objective promoting French culture and language, the Alliance Francaise in Si Lanka, boasts a network of five independent campuses in Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Matara, and Jaffna. After a tumultuous recent history, Alliance Francaise of Kotte in Colombo is now poised to start a new era by reclaiming its true-self in a spectacular homecoming to its beautiful and historic campus at No. 11, Barnes Place, Colombo 7.

The Alliances in Sri Lanka are a part of a much larger community. The first of the international network of over 800 Alliances, was founded in 1884 in Paris under the patronage of prominent historical figures such as Louis Pasteur and Jules a Verne and it is today, the largest network Of cultural and French language training Centres in the world, teaching French to more than 470 000 students in all five Continents.

The Alliance Francaise is multi-faceted. It is a cultural centre, a language Centre and an examination centre for internationally recognised French proficiency tests, a media centre, a translations centre, and a higher-education information centre for those who wish to study in France.

As a cultural centre, the Alliance Française de Kotte (AFKo) organises events throughout the year to promote a meaningful exchange between Sri Lankan and French cultures, bringing the best of France to the local population, involving both the local and expat communities. These include concerts, exhibitions, movie screenings, poetry recitals, etc.

As a language centre, the AFKo, offers range of courses at all levels using modern teaching methodology and facilities both online and on-site. The interest in French is on the rise not only because of its inherent charm and prestige, but also because it is opening to the French culture and the cultures of the French speaking world, because it is a doorway to the affordable higher studies in the high-quality engineering institutes, business and administration schools in France, and for migration to French-speaking countries. As a part of the services provided by the Language Centre, both internal and external students have the facility of taking DELF-DALF and TEF exams to obtain internationally recognised French language proficiency certifications.

The AFKo media centre boasts a collection of over 16,000 documents, books, reviews, French learning materials, classical French literature, novels, comics, magazines, children’s books, etc., as well as 400,000 items of digital material related to the French culture and language including CDs, audio books, DVDs, French TV (TV5 Monde). It is to the go-to place in Colombo for those French speaking and learning bibliophiles to lose themselves in the welcoming atmosphere of a true library setting. Exclusively open to the Alliance Francaise students and members of the library, the AFKo media centre also offers a range of activities: conferences, cinema, games nights, etc.

Apart from the above facilities, AFKo provides reliable translation services and free counselling for those who wish to pursue their higher studies in France.Come join the Alliance Francaise either as a member or as a student to be part of an enriching cultural and social experience!