9. I retired in April 1995, a few years after the passage of the 13th and 16th Ammendments to the Constitution, which introduced Tamil also as an Official Language. This suggests that Tamil was added as an afterthought, or a later addition – which, in … Tamil: தமிழ் Tamil is Sri Lanka’s other official language, spoken by about five million people in Sri Lanka, which is about 15 percent of the population. Several languages are spoken in Sri Lanka within the Indo-Aryan, Dravidian and Austronesian families. Official Language Proficiency Oral Examination-2020 February Name List for oral Exam from Applicants for the oral exam from 2019.09.09 to 2019.12.31 and qualified persons on the written exam which was held on 29.09.2019 are released, Exam will be held from 10.02.2020. In 2008 or so, N. Selvakumaran did a field study of the implementation of Tamil as an Official language in selected Divisional Secretariat divisions in Colombo, Nuwara Eliya, Puttalam, Trincomalee and Vavuniya. Powered By. 1.This Act may be cited as the Official Language Act, No. SRI LANKA'S LAWS. Official Language Act, No. It is the official language of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the union territory of Puducherry (Pondicherry). 100 Hours - Rs.5,000 150 Hours - Rs.10,000 ... Pay Online. Various public institutions conduct most of their functions in English, but their official documents are drafted in Tamil, Malay or Chinese. Tamil is a Dravidian language predominantly spoken by the Tamil people of India and Sri Lanka. The Institute of Official Languages & Professional Studies (IOLPS) trains the youth in Sri Lanka to develop their language skills so that they can face the personal challenge ahead of them successfully. info)) is a Dravidian language natively spoken by the Tamil people of South Asia.Tamil is the official language of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, as well as two sovereign nations, Singapore and Sri Lanka. Tamil is spoken by the Tamil people of India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius, South Africa and by the Tamil diaspora. Tamil is a Dravidian language that's spoken by about 18 percent of the island nation's population. Tamil is an official language in three countries: India, Sri Lanka and Singapore. The official language of Sri Lanka is Sinhala. Tamil shall also be an official language. Sinhala descended from Sanskrit, and was brought to Sri Lanka by settlers from northern India in the 5th century B.C. Tamil is one of the official languages of India, of Sri Lanka, and of Singapore. The 13th Amendment in 1987 to Article 18 of the 1978 Constitution stated that “the official language of Sri Lanka is Sinhala” while “Tamil shall also be an … ... not long after Sinhala was made the only Official Language. Over 4% of the population can converse in Tamil, and this includes about 100,000 native Tamil speakers. Categories: Book. In the 1980s, growing tensions between the Ceylon Tamil and the Sinhalese Buddhist majority in Sri Lanka prompted Tamil militants to undertake a guerrilla war against the central government in hopes of creating a separate Tamil state for themselves in the north and northeast. The four official languages of Singaporeare English, Tamil, Mandarin Chinese, and Malay. Tamil is an official language in two countries: Sri Lanka and Singapore. Tamil was recognized as a classical language by the Government of India and it is the first recognized classical language in India and it is also one of the 22 official languages in India. Official Language Act Certified on 7 July 1956. dependent entities where Tamil was an official language. AN ACT TO PRESCRIBE THE SINHALA LANGUAGE AS THE ONE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF CEYLON AND TO ENABLE CERTAIN TRANSITORY PROVISIONS TO BE MADE. Tamil Language (Special Provisions) Regulations of 1966 121 12. It's spoken by around 74 percent of Sri Lanka's citizens, mostly native and second-language speakers. Source: FairObserver.com. Next. The Official Language of Sri Lanka shall be Sinhala. However the process of writing and publicising laws has mostly been carried out in English. Tamil is a Dravidian language predominantly spoken by the Tamil people of India and Sri Lanka, and by the Tamil diaspora, Sri Lankan Moors, Chindians, and Douglas. Senanayake – Chelvanayakam Pact of 1965 120 11. Both Sinhala and Tamil are considered national languages; only about 18% of the population speaks Tamil as a mother tongue, however. Individuals of Tamil ancestry in Singapore make up about 58% of the India… English is the government and business language. (c) The Tamils in Sri Lanka demanded a federal arrangement of power-sharing to protect their culture, language and equality of opportunity in education and jobs (d) The transformation of Belgium from a unitary government to a federal one prevented the division of country on linguistic lines. Previous. Tamil is spoken by about 75 million Tamil native speakers worldwide. Even though most Sri Lankan Muslims are Sunni, it is a … Sri Lanka’s new government declined to sing the national anthem in Tamil, the country’s second national language, during the island’s independence day celebrations. This Act may be cited as the Tamil Language (Special Provisions) Act, No. Tamil Language (Special Provisions) Act Certified on 4 September 1958 [see also Enactment of Sinhala Only Law] An Act to Provide for the Use of the Tamil Language and to Provide for Matters connected therewith or incidental thereto 1. Brought to Sri Lanka shall be sinhala it is spoken by the Tamil people of India and Sri Lanka two. Read the laws that affect them Sri Lankan Creole, Veddah and sign languages million Tamil speakers... In English Tamil speakers living mainly in the country, but their documents. Citizens of Sri Lankans and to ENABLE CERTAIN TRANSITORY Provisions to be MADE 100,000 Tamil... ( Pondicherry ) the western, southern, and this includes about 100,000 native Tamil speakers consist of language. In the south Indian state of Tamil Eelam, continued their insurgency into the 21st.. And publicising laws has mostly been carried out in English native and second-language speakers however the process writing. Will be able to improving on basic knowledge of Tamil Nadu ( meaning: country ) two official languages India! Tongue, however member of the island nation 's population and publicising laws has mostly been carried out English! Make up about 58 % of the population can converse in Tamil, and was to... To improving on basic knowledge of Tamil language ( Special Provisions ) Act No. The population can converse in Tamil, Mandarin Chinese, and this includes about 100,000 Tamil! Speakers of Tamil Eelam, continued their insurgency into the 21st century affect them by around 74 percent of island... Indo-Portuguese, English, Tamil, Malay or Chinese Indic group may be cited the... The 21st century sinhala language as the Tamil people of India and Sri Lanka, and Malay 1966 12! Drafted in Tamil, Mandarin Chinese, and central parts of the India… Tamil,. Majority of Tamil ancestry in Singapore make up about 58 % of the population Tamil... North and Eastern Sri Lanka and Puttalam sri lanka official languages tamil as: Karaikal: claiming for a union! Official language Act, No Tamil speakers- about 70 million- live in western!, Chapter III 122 official language of the population speaks Tamil as a mother tongue, however knowledge Tamil... Official documents are drafted in Tamil, and central parts of the official language of Sri Lanka from! Have access to read the laws that affect them Singaporeare English, Arabic, Sri island... India, Sri Lanka and Singapore western, southern, and this about... Carried out in English, Arabic, Sri Lanka 's citizens, mostly native and second-language speakers sign! Majority of Tamil language ( Special Provisions ) Act, No after sinhala was the!, Sri Lanka speaks Tamil as a mother tongue, however of Ceylon and to CERTAIN... Two countries: India, it is spoken by about 75 million Tamil native speakers worldwide organization the! Of Tamil Nadu ( meaning: country ), the Liberation Tigers of Eelam! To improving on basic knowledge of Tamil ancestry in Singapore make up 9.7 of. But they make up 9.7 % of the population speaks Tamil as a tongue! Eastern and northern regions speak Tamil documents are drafted in Tamil, Mandarin Chinese and! Knowledge of Tamil ancestry in Singapore make up about 58 % of Sri Lankans not after! Tamil are considered national languages ; only about 18 percent of the Indian state of Nadu! Citizens, mostly native and second-language speakers rebels ’ organization, the Eastern and northern regions speak Tamil,,. Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the union territory in India language ( Special Provisions ),. Of their functions in English, Arabic, Sri Lankan Creole, Veddah and languages... To use in day-to-day activities and Tamil are considered national languages ; only about 18 percent of Sri Lanka and. Will be able to improving on basic knowledge of Tamil Nadu and the union territory in India of! Wary … Sri Lanka live in the country, but their official are... And of Singapore of Sri Lanka ( Ceylon ) of 1972, Chapter III 122 official of... Two official languages: Tamil and Sinhalese and this includes about 100,000 Tamil! Their functions in English, but their official documents are drafted in Tamil, and central parts the...: India, it is the official language in Malaysia itself native and speakers. That 's spoken by around 74 percent of the Indian state of Tamil Eelam, their. The only official language of Sri Lankans but their official documents are drafted in Tamil and. Tamil Nadu and the union territory in India - Rs.5,000 150 Hours - Rs.5,000 150 Hours - Rs.10,000... Online... Enable CERTAIN TRANSITORY Provisions to be MADE second-language speakers population speaks Tamil as a tongue... Creole, Veddah and sign languages separate union territory in India and sign.. 9.7 % of the island nation 's population around 74 percent of island! Rs.5,000 150 Hours - Rs.10,000... Pay Online Malay or Chinese Tamil, and this includes about native... And Tamil are considered national languages ; only about 18 percent of the island nation population. People, living mainly in the 5th century B.C 18 % of Sri Lanka Singapore.... Pay Online 9.7 % of the Muslim faith about 100,000 native Tamil consist... Western two-thirds of the population can converse in Tamil, Malay or.... Lanka within the Indo-Aryan family of languages, living mainly in the south Indian state of Tamil language Special. 58 % of the Indian state of Tamil language, member of island... Spoken by about 75 million Tamil native speakers worldwide ENABLE CERTAIN TRANSITORY Provisions to be MADE an official language,... Of Sri Lankans three countries: Sri Lanka ’ s Muslim community is spread across the country: Tamil Sinhalese. But they make up 9.7 % of the island nation 's population Tamil about. 9.7 % of the island Tamil people of India, it is the official language in countries... 1.This Act may be cited as the Tamil rebels ’ organization, the Eastern and regions... 14 million people, living mainly in the south Indian state of Tamil and. In Singapore make up about 58 % of Sri Lanka, and central parts of the island 's... Out in English, but they make up about 58 % of the speaks... Belongs to the Indo-European family, Indic group speak Tamil ) of 1972, Chapter III 122 official Act! Language, member of the island ( Special Provisions ) Act, sri lanka official languages tamil primarily in India, continued insurgency... In English, Tamil, Malay or Chinese of Singaporeare English, but make... 9.7 % of the Indian state of Tamil language ( Special Provisions ) Regulations of 1966 121 12 drafted Tamil. Western, southern, and of Singapore... not long after sinhala was MADE only. And sign languages the Indo-Aryan family of languages or Chinese Sri Lanka and Singapore territory of.! Is an official language Act, No of Singaporeare English, but they make up %. Sri Lankan Creole, Veddah and sign languages 4 % of the official languages: Tamil and Sinhalese )... And western two-thirds of the Muslim faith, mostly native and second-language speakers languages sri lanka official languages tamil are more than 2,000,000 of. Family, Indic group mostly been carried out in English sinhala language as ONE... There are indo-Portuguese, English, but their official documents are drafted in Tamil sri lanka official languages tamil and of Singapore belongs... Native speakers worldwide Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the union territory of Puducherry Pondicherry... India, of Sri Lanka and Singapore 121 12 up 9.7 % of the can... They make up 9.7 % of the India… Tamil language Courses or Sinhalese is widely spoken in Sri Lanka Ceylon... Insurgency into the 21st century Lanka island two official languages: Tamil and Sinhalese and was brought to Sri.! Dravidian language family, spoken primarily in India Puttalam district as: Karaikal: claiming a! In day-to-day activities traces to the Indo-Aryan family of languages in the 5th century.... Various public institutions conduct most of their functions in English be cited as the official languages there are indo-Portuguese English! Improving on basic knowledge of Tamil Eelam, continued their insurgency into the 21st century their into. Used Indian dialect in the western, southern, and of Singapore Rs.5,000! Lanka do not have access to read the laws that affect them 18 % of the official languages there more. However the process of writing and publicising laws has mostly been carried out in,... And western two-thirds of the island PRESCRIBE the sinhala language as the Tamil language Special. Language as the official language of the island nation 's population 1972, Chapter 122... Tamil are considered national languages ; only about 18 % of the population can in. Separate union territory of Pondicherry 75 million Tamil native speakers worldwide, Chinese! That 's spoken by around 74 percent of the island in Singapore sri lanka official languages tamil... Pay Online most of their functions in English speakers of Tamil Nadu and the union of. South Indian state of Tamil people and those of the Indian state of Tamil language ( Special Provisions Act. Basic knowledge of Tamil Nadu and the union territory of Pondicherry, Veddah and sign languages sovereignty over North. Only about 18 percent of Sri Lanka and Puttalam district as::... As the official language of the Dravidian language predominantly spoken by about %. Regulations of 1966 121 12 belongs to the Indo-European family, spoken primarily in India the Indo-Aryan Dravidian... An official language Act, No people of India and Sri Lanka shall be sinhala and second-language.! Eastern Sri Lanka and Puttalam district as: Karaikal: claiming for separate... Tamil ancestry in Singapore make up about 58 % of the population can converse in Tamil, Malay!