TO THE SRI LANKAN HIGH COMMISSIONER IN INDIA

19 October 2002

The High Commissioner
Sri Lanka Embassy in India
New Delhi
India

Dear Hon. High Commissioner:
I am attaching herewith a form issued by your office in Chennai to a Tamil couple who wished to register the birth of a new baby. As you can see the form is in English and Sinhala only.

As the highest ranking Sri Lankan official in India, you must be aware of the fact that Tamil is an official language in Sri Lanka. In case you didn’t know this, the Article 18 of the Sri Lanka Constitution (as adopted on 31 August 1978) states:

1. The official language of Sri Lanka shall be Sinhala.

2. Tamil shall also be an official language.

3. English shall be the link language.

It is true that Sri Lankan law on this is rather ambiguous. A grudging concession to Tamil no doubt, but the fact remains the Tamil IS an official language of Sri Lanka.

In fact, the constitution of Sri Lanka is quite clear on the right of Tamil people conduct business with the government of Sri Lanka in their own language. I quote:

Article 22 (2) A person, other than an official acting in his official capacity, shall be entitled:

(a) to receive communications from, and to communicate and transact business with, any official in his official capacity, in either of the national languages;

... 

Article 25 of the constitution further affirms, “The state shall provide adequate facilities for the use of the languages provided for in this chapter.”

I am sure that you as the highest ranking Sri Lankan official in India would have taken an oath to uphold the constitution of your country, which includes the above Articles. I wonder if the state failed to “provide adequate facilities” for you to uphold your oath and your duties.

I am curious to know as to why this form, that was handed to a Sri Lankan Tamil couple overseas, is not printed in Tamil, as required by the supreme law of your country.

I wish to humbly request the favor of a reply. Please send it via. the Ilankai Tamil sangam website (editor@sangam.org).

As a Sri Lankan Tamil, I am afraid to sign my name to this letter. You are well aware of what happened to Tamils asserting their rights and asking such questions in Sri Lanka, since 1956. It is for this reason that I am sending this letter anonymously via. the Ilankai Tamil sangam website. I hope you understand my reasons for wanting to remain anonymous.

Thank you.

Yours truly,

A Thamilan