[lg policy] Sri Lankan activists demand dual language policy

[Harold Schiffman]

Sri Lankan activists demand dual language policy


(May 13, 2011) Sri Lanka’s religious leaders and civic rights
activists gathered in Colombo on Wednesday to examine ways to solve
the language problem that dragged the country to civil war. Christian
and Hindu priests and activists from Tamil areas, including Vasudeva
Nanayakkara, the Minister of National Languages and Social
Integration, discussed problems and challenges faced by the Tamil
speaking people in relation to the official language policy.’
According to the Sri Lankan constitution, Sinhala and Tamil should be
the official and administrative languages and English the link
language. But non implementation of this policy led to many riots
since 1958 and 30 years of war. “A correct vision and courage is the
only way for reconciliation and social integrations between Sinhalese
and Tamils,” religious leaders pointed out. Professor P.
Balasundarampillai of Jaffna University urged the minister to restore
a Tamil language department at the University of Colombo to enable
Sinhala students to learn the Tamil language. Catholic priest Father
Saveri Mariathasan from Mannar diocese said: “Sinhala church leaders
can take action to solve the Tamil language problems.” Minister
Nanayakkara pledged the government’s will to implement the policy.

http://www.radiovaticana.org/in2/articolo.asp?c=486937

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