Sri Lanka’s Justice Minister ignites a powerful national conversation, declaring that constitutional language rights for Sinhala and Tamil must go beyond paper promises. At the Official Language Week closing ceremony, he warns: “If you can’t speak in your language, your humanity is denied.” Are we repeating the mistakes of the past?
In a bold call for true linguistic equality, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Justice, Attorney-at-Law Harshana Nanayakkara, declared that recognizing Sinhala and Tamil as official languages by the Constitution must go beyond symbolic status and become a lived reality. Speaking at the closing ceremony of Official Language Week 2025, the Minister emphasized that language rights are fundamental to justice, reconciliation, and the very legitimacy of the state.
“Language is not just a tool it is identity, memory, and dignity,” he said, warning that denying people the right to express themselves in their mother tongue is nothing short of dehumanization.
The grand finale of Official Language Week took place on July 7, 2025, at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Colombo, under the patronage of Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, Justice Minister Nanayakkara, and Deputy Minister Munir Mulaffer. The event followed a week-long program organized by the Ministry of Justice and National Integration, which began on July 1.
In his impassioned speech, the Minister declared, “Today’s celebration is not just ceremonial it is a recommitment to equality, dignity, and respect.” He stressed that language rights are emotional and human, not just administrative.
He reminded the audience of Sri Lanka’s painful past, where the marginalization of language rights triggered mistrust, injustice, and ultimately, civil conflict. “This is not a mistake we can afford to repeat. Peace begins with respecting language. There can be no reconciliation without equality.”
Starting October, all Grama Niladhari Divisions across Sri Lanka will be required to provide government forms in both Sinhala and Tamil, a move the Minister said is essential for operationalizing constitutional guarantees. He acknowledged that while the 13th Amendment and the Official Languages Commission Act provide the legal basis, they have not yet translated into everyday realities for the people.
“We must bridge the gap between recognition and reality. Rights must live not just in law books, but in the lives of our people,” he emphasized.
The cultural celebration included traditional performances and the awarding of certificates to schoolchildren who won a motto-writing competition on linguistic harmony. Notable attendees included Canadian High Commissioner Eric Walsh, Bangladesh High Commissioner Andalib Elias, Prime Minister’s Secretary Pradeep Saputhanthree, Galle District Secretary W.A. Dharmakirthi, Professor S.J. Yogaraja, students, educators, and civil society representatives.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya and Secretary Ayesha Jinasena also addressed the gathering, echoing the Minister’s sentiments. They emphasized that true national integration cannot rely on infrastructure or slogans alone it must begin with transforming language policies and practices.
Justice Minister Nanayakkara concluded by stating, “Language is the rhythm of respect and the architecture of thought. It is the soul of our nation. When a citizen can speak freely in their own language and be heard only then can we say we are one nation.”
The event reinforced the government’s intention to enforce linguistic equity, not just for administrative convenience, but as a moral and national obligation. In a country scarred by the failure to protect language rights, this renewed focus could be a turning point or a missed opportunity.
