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Annual Report

Official Languages Commission

4th

Floor

“Basha Mandiraya” ,

341/7, Kotte Rd. ,

Rajagiriya .

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The Honourable Minister of Constitutional Affairs & National Integration

Hon. Minister,

The Official Languages Commission

Presents

the

Annual Report

for the period of

January the first, 2006 to

December the thirty first, 2006

to the parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

through your good office

pursuant to the

Section 32 of the

Official Languages Commission Act

No. 18 of 1991.

Yours respectfully,

Raja Collure

Chairman

Official Languages Commission

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Annual Report for Year 2006

1. The Official Languages Commission of Sri Lanka was appointed by His Excellency

the President under the Official Languages Commission Act No. 18 of 1991, to monitor and

supervise compliance with the Language provisions of chapter IV of the Constitution of the

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

2. OUR MISSION

Is to see a Government Service consisting of Officials who are capable of transacting

business with any citizen of the state in any one of the two Official Languages or the

link language on any given day at any given location.

3. OUR VISION

3.1 Accordingly, the Commission's mandate is to monitor and supervise the compliance

of the constitutional provisions regarding the use of language by the Government,

to advise the Government on measures necessary to ensure such compliance and to

take punitive action against those responsible when such compliance is deliberately

prevented or perverted. The Commission is also empowered to accept and

investigate complaints from citizens who believe their linguistic rights have been

violated and to give them redress.

3.2 Since 1956 Sinhala has been the Official Language of Sri Lanka, made effective by

the Official Languages Act No. 33 of 1956. Provision was made for the reasonable

use of Tamil Language by the special provisions Act of 1958. The Constitution of the

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka passed on 31st August 1978, made

Sinhala and Tamil as National Languages. The 13th

Amendment to the Constitution

passed on November 14th

1987, made Tamil also an Official Language in addition to

Sinhala, which had been the sole Official Language since 1956. This same

amendment gave sanction to the use of English as a 'link ' language.

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3.3 Through the 16th

amendments to the constitution chapter IV on Language was further

defined and elaborated. Among other things these provisions made Sinhala the

language of record and administration in the seven provinces in the south and gave

Tamil the same position in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. By virtue of the

powers vested by article 22(1) of the constitution, President has directed by

notifications published in the Extra Ordinary Gazettes that both Sinhala and Tamil

Languages be used as the Languages of administration in 29 Divisional Secretaries

Divisions .

4. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE:

The members of the Official Languages Commission are appointed by Her

Excellency the President .The members of the present Commission were appointed

for a three year term with effect from 15.03.2004

Over the year under review the Commission consisted of following members.

Mr.Raja Collure (Chairman ) - from 01.01.2006 to 31.12.2006

Prof. S.Thillainathan (Member ) - from 01.01.2006 to 31.12.2006

Mr.N.P.M.Saifdeen (Member ) - from 01.01.2006 to 31.12.2006

Prof. Somarathne Balasooriya (Member ) - from 01.01.2006 to 31.12.2006

Prof. J.B.Disanayaka (Member ) - from 15.03.2006 to 31.12.2006

Prof. A.V.Suraweera (Member ) - from 15.03.2006 to 31.12.2006

Mr.Senarath Gunasena S.L.A.S Class I , functioned as the Ex - Officio Secretary of

the Official Languages Commission from 01.01.2006 to 31.12.2006

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5. STAFF

Staff of the Commission as at 31.12.2006

Designation Approved Actual Comment

Cadre Cadre

1. Asst. Secretary 01 *

2. Administrative Officer 01 01 Contract basis

3. Language Officer (Trilingual) 01 01 Contract basis

cum Research Officer

4. Finance Asst. 01 01 *

5. Research Assts. 03 01 02 Posts vacant

6. Coordinating Assts. 05 * 05 Posts vacant

7. Chief Clerk 01 *

8. Senior Clerk (Sinhala ) 01 01

9. -do- (Tamil ) 01 01

10. -do- (English ) 01 01

11. Book keeper 01 *

12. Computer Operator 01 01

13. Translator (Sinhala / Tamil) 01 *

14. Stenographer (English ) 01 *

15. Steno /Typist (English ) 01 *

16. Typist (Tamil ) 01 01

17. Drivers 03 03

18. Office Aides 03 03

Total 28 14

* Vacant

6. ADVISORY WORK OF THE COMMISSION

For the first time in the history the present Official Languages Commission after

making a full study of the situation analyzing and researching on the use of the

Official Languages in terms of section 6 (a) of the Official Languages Commission

Act No. 18 of 1991 made special recommendations to the government in 2005.

It is with gratitude we mention here that the statement made by His Excellency the

President on January 14th

, 2006 ( Thaipongal Day) that the Government will

implement the Recommendation of the Official Languages Commission.

The Commission also prepared Recommendations of the year 2006 after completing a

study and analyzing the position with regard to the implementation of the Official

Languages Policy of the Government.

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LANGUAGE AUDITS :

In terms of the recommendations of the Commission, delegations of the Commission

including the Chairman, Secretary, members and officers of the Commission visited

a considerable number of Divisional Secretariats declared as bilingual administrative

Divisions as well as Divisional Secretariats where more than 12.5% of the population

speaks 2nd

Language during the year 2006.

OBSERVATIONS OF THE LANGUAGE AUDITS

Divisional Secretariats where Language Audits were conducted , it was observed that

there was a severe dearth of Officials who can communicate with Tamil speaking

public in Tamil Language.

We found at the Language Audits conducted during the year that the majority of the

Divisional Secretaries and Assistant Divisional Secretaries have difficulties in

transacting business with Tamil speaking people of the area. More than 50% of the

officers represented matters at the Language Audits were not aware of the

Constitutional Provisions with regard to the Official Languages Policy or the

directives issued by the government on the subject. Due to this reason name boards,

sign boards, direction boards etc….. appeared only in one language in most of the

Divisional Secretariats audited. It was also observed that the forms which are

prepared by the Divisional Secretariat were mainly in Sinhala only. It was observed

facilities available in these offices to handle administrative matters of the Tamil

speaking public in the Tamil Language was greatly inadequate. Although Official

Languages Commission and the Department of Official Languages taken steps to

overcome this difficulties it was not 100% successful.

It was revealed that the Tamil speaking people prefer to write letters in Sinhala

because they fear that the letters addressed in Tamil will not get due attention of

Tamil speaking people . Due to this reason we observe that there is a problem with

regard to the usage of Tamil Language even in bilingual Divisional Secretariats.

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After the Language Audit it was followed by a seminar cum work-shop for awareness

creation among officers of the Divisional Secretariats . These seminar cum workshops

were very useful for the officers because the Commission provided set of relevant

documents, government circulars regarding language rights including a extract of the

part IV of the Constitution of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in which

the Language Rights and responsibility of the public servants are mentioned very

clearly.

LANGUAGE AUDITS

Conducted from 01.01.2006 – 31.12.2006

1. Language Audit, Wellawatte Police Station - 24/01/2006

2. Language Audit, Colombo Divisional Secretariat - 31/01/2006

3. Language Audit ,Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretariat - 06/02/2006

4. Language Audit, Keselwatte Police Station - 14/02/2006

5. Language Audit, Kalpititya Divisional Secretariat - 27/02/2006

6. Language Audit, Puttalam Divisional Secretariat - 27/02/2006

7. Language Audit, Department of Pensions - 06/03/2006

8. Language Audit, Kotahena Police Station - 09/05/2006

9. Language Audit, Badulla Municipal Council - 08/06/2006

10. Language Audit, Soranathota Divisional Secretariat - 09/06/2006

11. Language Audit, Dehiwala Divisional Secretariat - 28/06/2006

12. Language Audit, Wattala Divisional Secretariat - 05/07/2006

13. Language Audit, Bandarawela Divisional Secretariat - 24/07/2006

14. Language Audit, Panwila Divisional Secretariat - 31/07/2006

15. Language Audit, Ukuwela Divisional Secretariat - 01/08/2006

16. Language Audit, Department of Traffic - 02/08/2006

17. Language Audit, Rattota Divisional Secretariat - 07/08/2006

18. Language Audit, Ambanganga Korale Divisional Secretariat- 08/08/2006

19. Language Audit, Kolonnawa Divisional Secretariat - 14/08/2006

20. Language Audit, Haldummulla Divisional Secretariat - 01/09/2006

21. Language Audit, Negambo Divisional Secretariat - 27/09/2006

22. Language Audit, Matale Divisional Secretariat - 04/10/2006

23. Language Audit, Kotapola Divisional Secretariat - 19/10/2006

24. Language Audit, Beruwala Divisional Secretariat - 17/11/2006

25. Language Audit, Nagoda Divisional Secretariat - 18/11/2006

26. Language Audit, Ratnapura Divisional Secretariat - 20/11/2006

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AWARENESS CREATION PROGRAMMES AND USAGE OF SINHALA

AND TAMIL AS OFFICIAL LANGUAGES :

It was observed at Language Audits carried out during the year lack of awareness and

lack of commitment of the officials has created the unsatisfactory situation with

regard to implementation of Tamil Language outside the North –East and

implementation of Sinhala Language in the North-East . Although the direction from

the Government have been given to all the Ministries, Departments and other

Government institutions no positive actions have been taken by the most Government

institutions to implement the Official Languages Policy of the Government . More

than 50% of the staff surveyed at the Language Audits admitted that they had never

attended the Seminars or Training Programmes conducted on the Official Languages

Policy. Therefore it was essential for the Official Languages Commission to conduct

awareness creation programmes through out the country. Allocation of funds for these

programmes were not sufficient as the funds have been restricted. Fortunately the

Official Languages Commission was able to obtain funds for this purpose from the

Asia Foundation . With the sponsorship of the Asia Foundation we were able to

conduct 18 awareness seminars cum workshops during the year 2006 and create

awareness among 1918 officials attached to 13 Divisional Secretariats, one Police

Station, One Government Department and one Municipal Council.

AWARNESS CREATION PROGRAMMES HELD IN THE YEAR 2006

No. Date Event Place No.of

participants

1 2006.02.25 ACWS* Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretariat 66

2 2006.03.04 ACWS Colombo Divisional Secretariat 126

3 2006.05.24 ACWS Kotahena Police Station 74

4 2006.06.03 ACWS Department of Pensions 161

5 2006.06.05 ACWS Puttlam Divisional Secretariat 84

6 2006.06.12 ACWS Kalpitiya Divisional Secretariat 74

7 2006.07.18 ACWS Dehiwala Divisional Secretariat 64

8 2006.07.23 ACWS Badulla Municipal Council 73

9 2006.08.04 ACWS Wattala Divisional Secretariat 128

10 2006.09.05 ACWS Kolonnawa Divisional Secretariat 143

11 2006.09.08 ACWS Ukuwela Divisional Secretariat 219

12 2006.09.09 ACWS Rattota Divisional Secretariat 164

13 2006.09.26 ACWS Panwila Divisional Secretariat 82

14 2006.10.03 ACWS Ambanganga Korale Divisional

Secretariat

72

15 2006.10.13 ACWS Haldummulla Divisional Secretariat 141

16 2006.11.26 ACWS Matale Divisional Secretariat 151

17 2006.12.01 ACWS Soranatota Divisional Secretariat 91

Total 1913

* Awareness creation and workshops out of these workshops No. 5 to 17 were

conducted with the support of the Asia Foundation

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II TRAINING POLICE OFFICERS IN THE SECOND OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

As was in previous years special attention was forcussed on training of police officers

in the Second Official Language in the year 2006 too. More than 95% of the entire

Police force are not conversant in Tamil . Therefore need for Training of Police

Officers who closely interact with the general public in areas where there are large

Tamil speaking minorities living considered priority basis. The Tamil Language

training programmes were conducted during the year 2006 as an islandwide

programme . Places where such programmes were carried out and the number of

police officers who attended the programmes are mentioned below. In the year under

review the Commission has taken action to increase the number of such programmes

to cover new police divisions . These programmes covered all districts except Jaffna,

Mullathivu, Kilinochchi and Mannar . Preliminary discussions have been held with

authorities concerned for organizing Second Official Language programmes for

police officers serving in police stations in the Northern Province.

III COMPILATION OF TEXT BOOKS

Copies of the Spoken Tamil Text Book compiled by the Special Committee appointed

by the Commission was given to Official Languages Department to train the Instructors

who are engaged for Tamil Language Classes.

IV PREPARATION OF PHRASE BOOKS

(a) The Trilingual Phrase Book for Police Officers

Preparation of Trilingual Phrase Book for Police Officers was completed and

ready for publications.

(b) The Trilingual Phrase Book for Health Sector Personnel

Editing of the Trilingual Phrase Book for health sector personnel prepared by

the sub committee appointed for the purpose, is in progress as at 31.12.2006.

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( c) The Trilingual Phrase Book for Officers at front line offices of

government institutions.

Compilation of the Phrase Book in Sinhala was completed and handed over to

the Chairman of the Commission. It will be published after editing and

translating into Tamil and English.

VI REVISION OF CURRICULA AND TEXT BOOKS

The present curricula and text books were prepared over ten years ago and needed

revision. Therefore the Commission initiated action to develop a modern curricula

Sinhala and , Tamil as a second official languages at two levels - the Basic and

Advanced. For this purpose the Commission has appointed two special Sub

Committees ( i.e for Sinhala and Tamil ) comprising of linguists and experts form

related disciplines . The objectives of these subcommittees are as follows :

i. Evaluation of the current language teaching programme and the material

used.

ii. Developing training aids - (includes use of modern technology) and

Making proposals for the improvement of the print and audio-video material

used for teaching /learning

Particulars regarding Advanced and Basic Tamil Language Training classes for Police

Officers , held in 2006

Advanced Tamil Language Programmes for Polilce Officers held in 2006

No Police Inservice Training Institute No. of

Classes

No. of

Participants

1 Badulla Police Inservice Training Institute 3 90

2 Anuradhapura Police Inservice Training Institute 3 87

3 Gampaha Police Inservice Training Institute 2 68

4 Galle Police Inservice Training Institute 2 81

5 Vavuniya Police Inservice Training Institute 1 43

6 Trincomalee Police Inservice Training Institute 2 84

7 Ampara Police Inservice Training Institute 2 90

8 Kurunegala Police Inservice Training Institute 2 69

9 Kirulapana Police Inservice Training Institute 2 110

10 Batticaloa Police Inservice Training Institute 1 41

Sub Total 20 783

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Basic Tami Language Programme

No Police Inservice Training Institute No. of Classes No. of

Participants

1 Criminal Record Division 1 22

Sub Total 1 22

Grand Total 21 805

5. TRAINING HEALTH SECTOR PERSONNEL IN TAMIL AS THE SECOND

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

During the year 2005 the OLC expanded it’s training programmes for the training of health

sector personnel in the Official Languages particularly in areas where there are large

linguistic minorities. These include Welimada, Haputale in the Badulla District

commencement of Second Official Language Training Programmes for Nursing Training

schools in centres hereto uncovered was another achievement . These include the Nurses

Training Institute at Anuradhapura, Badulla, Kandy and Ratnapura.

6. Basic Tamil Languages Programme for Health personnel

No Nurses Training Schools/

Hospitals

No. of Classes No. of Participants

1 Badulla NTS 2 56

2 Colombo NTS 3 107

3 Ratnapura NTS 3 98

4 Kandy NTS 4 121

5 Anuradhapura NTS 2 40

6 Awissawella Hospital 1 18

7 Badulla General Hospital 2 49

8 Haputale 1 06

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10

Sub Total 18 495

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Basic Sinhala Language Programmes

No Nurses Training Schools/

Hospitals

No. of Classes No. of Participants

1 Batticaloa NTS 2 81

2 Batticaloa General Hospital 1 69

Sub Total 3 150

Training of doctors in the use of the Tamil language has also been given priority. Since there

was a difficulty in arranging separate programmes for Doctors, they were invited to attend

the programmes conducted for nursing personnel. It is observed that owing to the variance of

their duty rosters they often find it difficult to attend these programmes regularly. In areas

where the Tamil linguistic minority is spread out proficiency of the Tamil language is of

paramount importance to health sector personnel . Taking into consideration of these facts

doctors attached to hospitals in the Uva Province were allowed to follow the Tamil Language

Programmes according to their convenience.

COMPLAINTS

The Commission has received only 14 written complaints during the year 2006 and

investigations have been held and necessary instructions were given to the respondents to

comply with the Language Law. Several complaints received over the telephone, through the

print and electronic media were investigated and redress were given to the affected parties

and remedial action have been taken to prevent repetition of such incidents.

The Commission is of the opinion that the paucity of complaints is due to insufficient

awareness among the public of its existence and powers. A publicity campaign is therefore

being launched to raise the level of awareness.

LEGAL ENFORCEMENT

The Commission has the power to take legal action on two circumstances with regard to the

Implementation of Official Languages Policy :

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a) When the Head of a Government institution fails to give effect to the

recommendations made by the Commission , upon an investigation made on a

complaint by public with regard to the violation of language rights.

b) When a public officer required to perform official duties in any relevant

language, willfully fails or neglects in such duties.

With regard to (a) and (b) above, no legal suit has been instituted hitherto against any

Government institution or any public officer.

NATIONAL AUDIT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OFFICIAL

LANGAUGES POLICY

1. In 2005, the Official Languages Commission decided to conduct a survey in

regard to the competence of public servants in the two Official Languages and the

Link Language (English). However it was not possible due to various reasons.

2. In order to carryout this survey the Official Languages Commission sought the

services of the Deputy Director, Census and Statistics Department who was one

of the officers responsible for a survey carried out in respect of language

competence by the Department of Census and Statistics in 2000.

3. In March, 2006 the Chairman discussed the matter over the telephone with the

Director General Census and Statistics Department in regard to the matter of

obtaining the services of the officers concerned. He informed the Chairman that

they would be conducting a survey on competence of public servants in the

Official Languages in due course and hence there was no necessity to conduct a

separate survey. He agreed to insert any questions that we though were necessary

to be contained in the questionnaire for the survey. The Official Languages

Commission submitted certain questions which in its opinion were pertinent to the

survey.

4. In July 2006 the Census and Statistics Department conducted a survey titled

“Census of Public and Semi-government Sector Employment 2006”. The

relevant questions appear in cage 11 of the questionnaire, issued by the

Department of Census and Statistics suitable action will be taken on the results of

the Survey.

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5. FUNDING FROM CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

AGENCY

The Official Languages Commission has also sought funding from the CIDA the

Canadian aid agency to carry out a Need Based Assessment Across Selected State

Institutions in 9 provinces in Sri Lanka.

RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMISSION

A Memorandum of Recommendation 2006 of the commission is ready for submission to His

Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksha . A copy of the Memorandum is annexed

hereto .

As recommended by the Commission Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration has

taken steps to issue circulars with concurrence of the Official Languages Commission

regarding the increase of payment of incentives to Public Servants who acquire proficiency

in the second official languages and give preference at promotions or elevate to higher

positions by creating new categories of cadre for those who gain proficiency at levels II and

III of both the second languages so that the Government will be able to Implement the

Official Languages Policy more effectively.

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