The government has taken steps to make the second language proficiency compulsory to all public employees.

Ministry of National Languages and Social Integration announced that the employees who joined the public service from the 1st July 2007 should obtain the proficiency certificate for the second language before the end of 2012.

The Department of Official Languages in collaboration with the Department of Examinations will conduct examinations regarding language proficiency.

The public employees who fail to qualify in second language proficiency will be subjected to the suspension of Salary increments there onwards, the Ministry announced.

The government believes knowledge to communicate in all three languages Sinhala, Tamil and English will aid the reconciliation process between the communities easier.