Every official document and circular sent to the North and East needs be prepared in Tamil or English, states the Ministry of National Languages and Social Integration.

According to the State Language Policy, Tamil is the language of administration in the Northern and Eastern provinces. However, the Ministry has received many complaints that only the Sinhala language is used in official correspondence with state institutions in those areas.

Against this backdrop, there is an urgent need to use Tamil in official documentation when corresponding with the North and East, the Ministry of National Languages and Social Integration emphasizes. Furthermore, if documents are supplemented by English translations, it will improve the clarity and efficiency of the communication, the Ministry notes. Such a step will help solve the current language issues as well.

The Ministry explains that when signing and replying to a document prepared in Tamil, if the authorized officer has no adequate knowledge about Tamil, he is entitled to sign a translated document prepared in a state language he is familiar with. Subsequently, his response can be translated into Tamil.

The Ministry of National Languages and Social Integration requests all state institutions to follow this procedure and thereby help practice the State Language Policy in an effective manner.