Jacques Soulie

Jacques Soulie, a native of Toulouse, France, is the Director of the Alliance Francaise (French Cultural Centre) in Kandy, Central Sri Lanka. A psychiatrist by profession, Dr Soulie has been based in Sri Lanka for many years. He goes down in the history of Franco Sri Lanka Relations as an exemplary Frenchman who rendered enormous services to teaching French in Sri Lanka. He has been teaching French at the Alliance Francaise in Kandy for many years. Dr Soulie conducted the Diploma Course in French-Diplome de Langue Francaise and the Higher Diploma in French-Diplome Superieur de langue francaise.

Apart from his work at the Alliance Francaise, Dr Soulie has been working at the University of Peradeniya, near Kandy, as a visiting lecturer in French. He has been instrumental in introducing great classics of French literature to Sri Lankan students, in helping Sri Lankans master the French language, and in producing high level results at the diploma courses offered by the Alliance Francaise de Paris. Apart from that, Dr Soulie has also helped a number of Sri Lankans to head to France for their higher studies. Many such students have affirmed that it was Dr Soulie's teaching that enabled them to reach considerable heights in the French system of higher education, obtaining higher degrees such as the French 'Licence', 'Maitrise', and 'Doctorat'.

Dr Soulie is also a great lover of Sri Lanka, her people, her literature and her culture. He speaks and understands Sinhalese language, and many Sri Lankan and non-Sri Lankan visitors to the Alliance Francaise have been highly surprised of his outstanding knowledge of local traditions, folklore and literature. He has been instrumental in organising many arts and literary events at the Alliance Francaise de Kandy, making it a major cultural venue in the Hill Capital. All in all, Dr Soulie is an exemplary 'Franco Sri Lankan' who has earned a high level of respect in his adoptive homeland as a significant contributor to the community.