In 1956, a significant event in Sri Lanka’s history took place when Sinhala was recognized as the only official language of the country. This decision was made through the Official Language Act No. 33 of 1956, commonly known as the Sinhala Only Act.
Background
Before 1956, English was the official language of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), a legacy from the British colonial period. The majority of the population spoke Sinhala, while Tamil was the language of the largest minority group. After gaining independence, there was a strong movement among the Sinhalese majority to establish Sinhala as the official language, reflecting the national identity and cultural heritage of the majority.
The Act and Its Implications
The Sinhala Only Act was passed by the Parliament of Ceylon on July 7, 1956. This act replaced English with Sinhala as the sole official language, effectively excluding Tamil from official use. The passage of this act was a fulfilment of a key election promise by the then Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, who had campaigned on a platform of Sinhala nationalism.
Controversy and Consequences
The act was highly controversial and led to significant unrest. Tamil-speaking communities felt marginalized and discriminated against, as the act ignored their linguistic and cultural rights. This tension contributed to long-standing ethnic conflicts in the country, including demands for a separate Tamil state and eventually the Sri Lankan Civil War.
Aftermath and Amendments
In response to the unrest, the government later introduced the Tamil Language (Special Provisions) Act in 1958, which allowed for the use of Tamil in certain administrative functions and as a medium of instruction in education. However, these measures did little to alleviate the underlying tensions between the Sinhalese and Tamil communities.
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