Birth, death certificates to go bilingual

Asela KURULUWANSA

The National Languages and Social Integration Ministry has directed the authorities to issue birth and death certificates in both Sinhala and Tamil languages in future, said minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara.

Addressing a meeting held at Hatton organised by SIDA on Monday the Minister said at present these certificates are issued only in Sinhala and this had created difficulties for the people speaking other languages.

The Ministry gave this order to help people overcome such difficulties. Minister Nanayakkara said the Ministry has also advised the Department of Immigration and Emigration to print passport applications too in Sinhala, Tamil and English to avoid inconveniencing the public.

The Ministry will set up a translators' pool so that people could obtain their services to get vital documents translated into the langauge of their choice on a payment.

Translators will be allowed to charge a payment of Rs 1.50 per each word.

He said in future it would be made compulsory for public servants to perform their duties in both Sinhala and Tamil.

Dual langauge proficiency in Sinhala and Tamil will be considered as a special qualification in granting promotions and salary increments.