‘Language proficiency will enhance unity’

Ridma Dissanayake

“All Sinhalese people should have Tamil language proficiency and Tamils should be proficient in Sinhala. “This helps develop trust and unity among people,” said Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne, addressing the inauguration ceremony of the Tamil language course organized by the Ceylon Fishery Harbour’s Corporation in collaboration with the National Languages and Social Integration Ministry recently.

“All Sri Lankans have great responsibility to develop the country and we must be united as a single nation. Therefore, Tamil language proficiency is very important to build strong bonds among communities,” Minister said. “When we went to the North and East provinces we had difficulty in interacting with the people there. This problem has taken our country’s development back by a number of years,” he said.

“At present, the government has taken measures to develop language proficiency in the state sector,and Official Languages Department has done a commendable service in this regard”, the Minister added.

The Fisheries Minister later in ceremony laid the foundation stone at the Ceylon Fishery Harbour’s Corporation for an administration building which will be built at a cost of Rs 11.3 million.

National Hospital’s Deputy Director Dr.Sujatha Senaratne,Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry’s Secretary Dr Damitha De Soysa,Ceylon Fishery Harbours Corporation Chairman Amal Senadhilankara,Managing Director Lal Samarasinghe and National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency(NARA)’s Director General Nilmini Diyabedanage were also present.