Destination boards in all three languages, a must from next year

Chaminda Perera

The destination should be displayed in all three languages in the front and rear of every bus by December 31, National Languages and Social Integration Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara said.

"Over 50 percent of private and CTB buses do not display name boards in all three languages. Only 20 percent of announcements at railway stations are made in accordance with the language policy," he said.

The National Languages and Social Integration Ministry officials held discussion with representatives of the Passenger Transport Authority and Sri Lanka Transport Board in connection with the implementation of the national language policy. Both have promised to comply with the policy by December 31.

Ministry officials were to meet the Inspector General of Police to discuss how the Police could assist in improving this situation yesterday. "All government servants are duty bound to abide by the national language policy at their institutions," Minister Nanayakkara said. He said every citizen should be able to be able to obtain services by communicating in the language of their choice at government departments. The minister said every citizen can demand information or documents in their own language. Nanayakkara said he wrote to all Chief Ministers and Ministry Secretaries to be extra vigilant over the national language policy when communicating with people in multi - ethnic localities. "They should receive at least a translation of letters sent by government offices," he said.