Sinhala only forms: Little done over the years to rectify this

Last Thursday, my husband and I went to Borella to get our booster vaccine. We were given a form to fill asking for name, age, when our last jab was, ID number and a few other details. The form was entirely in the Sinhala language. The three people with me were all Tamil speaking. They could speak Sinhala fluently (unlike most of us Sinhalese who struggle to understand Tamil) but they could not read.

So, I was the translator.

At a time when we are talking of ‘One Country One Law’ this is such a case in point.

Some years ago, Tamil was accepted as a national language. But it is in these seemingly little and yet most frustrating things that we ‘keep telling them’ that they are second class citizens. I have had Sinhala folk say “But this is a Sinhala Buddhist nation”! My response is “No, it’s a nation where the majority happen to be Sinhala speaking and Buddhist.” I am so proud to have among my childhood friends those who happen to be

Sinhala Buddhist who are respectful of others whether Tamil, Muslim or Burgher.

In countries like Singapore official matters are conducted in Chinese, Tamil and English. It means they respect each other and recognize each other as fellow citizens. We should not feel we are doing anyone a favour by giving them forms in the Tamil language. It is their right as equal citizens. Sarla Williams (A senior citizen) Via email