'Inappropriate use affects language'
Priyanka KURUGALA
Certain announcers of new FM radio channels use the Sinhala language
in an inappropriate way. This destroys the language, National Heritage
Minister Jagath Balasooriya said.
Minister Jagath Balasooriya |
A major responsibility lies with the National Heritage Ministry to
put an end to such practices, he said. He was addressing the seminar
Discussion on the protection of language heritage, at the Foundation
Institute.
Many programmes were implemented under the Hela Hawla in the 50s
under the patronage of Sinhala language scholars such as Munidasa
Cumarathunga. The society underwent a transformation due to the open
economy. This impacted on the Sinhala language.
The seminar was organized by the National Heritage Ministry under the
patronage of Amarapura Chapter Deputy Leader Most Ven Trikunamale Ananda
Thera.
"It is important to study other languages such as Pali, Sanskrit and
English to protect the identify of the Sinhala language. The language
will not be protected by a person who is not an expert in the language.
It is necessary to pay attention to the tradition of the language, he
said.
A special lecture was delivered by Hawaii University Prof Wimal
Dissanayake. National Heritage Ministry Secretary Kanthi Wijethunga,
Prof Carlo Fonseka and Dr Harishchandra Wijayathunga also participated. |