Official Language Act, 1956

Tamils - a Trans State Nation..

"To us all towns are one, all men our kin.
Life's good comes not from others' gift, nor ill
Man's pains and pains' relief are from within.
Thus have we seen in visions of the wise !."
- Tamil Poem in Purananuru, circa 500 B.C

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Home > Struggle for Tamil Eelam > Democracy, Sri Lanka Style > Sri Lanka's Laws > Official Language Act, 1956

SRI LANKA'S LAWS

Official Language Act
Certified on 7 July 1956

[see also Enactment of Sinhala Only Law]

AN ACT TO PRESCRIBE THE SINHALA LANGUAGE AS THE ONE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF CEYLON AND TO ENABLE CERTAIN TRANSITORY PROVISIONS TO BE MADE

1.This Act may be cited as the Official Language Act, No. 33 of 1956

2.The Sinhala language shall be the one official Language of Ceylon

Provided that where the Minister considers it impracticable to commence the use of only the Sinhala Language for any official purpose immediately on the coming into force of this Act, the language or languages hitherto used for that purpose may be continued to be so used until the necessary change is effected as early as possible before the expiry of the 31st of December, 1960 and, if such change cannot be effected by administrative order, regulations may be made under this Act to effect such change.

3.(1) The Minister may make regulations in respect of all matters for which regulations are authorised by this Act to be made and generally for the purpose of giving effect to the principles and provisions of this Act.

(2)No regulation made tinder subsection (1) shall have effect until it is approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives and notification of such approval is published in the Gazette.

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