Thu, 28 Mar 2024 Today's Paper

I hated 'Sinhala Only Act': CV

9 June 2016 09:44 am - 21     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

I boycotted Sinhala language as I hated the Sinhala Only Act, NPC Chief Minister C.V Wigneswaran said.

"I stopped learning Sinhala as I disliked the implementation of the Sinhala Only Act. Hence, I explain our political shortcoming to the Sinhala media in my own broken Sinhala. If I had learnt Sinhala language properly I could have responded to any politician in fluent Sinhala," he said after declaring open the Kalaimagal statue in Kokkuvil Hindu Primary School in Jaffna yesterday morning built at a cost of Rs.700,000.

He said if meaningful reconciliation was to take place one had to learn the other’s language.

"Our people who go to Norway learn their language. Similarly, those who go to France learn French but sadly we ignore the Sinhala language. I started to learn Sinhala in 1955 and stopped learning when the Sinhala Only Act was implemented in 1956. Now I am talking to the Sinhala media about our shortcoming in broken Sinhala," he said.

"Our Sinhala brethren have started to learn Tamil as a compulsory language. Sinhala officers fluent in Tamil will be sent to the North and East very soon. Hence, we have to be cautious. Those who are not fluent in Sinhala language will be sidelined. Therefore forget politics and nurture your knowledge in Sinhala, NPC Chief Minister C.V Wigneswaran said.


Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

  Comments - 21

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka
  • lokka Thursday, 09 June 2016 04:38 PM

    these kind of stupid comments make tamils ask for separation

    usuf Friday, 10 June 2016 04:57 PM

    Dear Mr.Lokka comments based on truth may be hurting ur pride via DM Android App

    Riz Friday, 10 June 2016 10:57 AM

    Even after war there is discrimination for minority, if it continues government cant stop deviding the couuntry with the influence of international community. Sinhalese doesn't understand this

    Maya Friday, 10 June 2016 10:39 AM

    Who created the troubles between Singalese and Tamils and benefited? It was tho who pretended as Buddhist than the true Buddhists.

    Maya Friday, 10 June 2016 10:36 AM

    Did you understand what he says? He says Singalese brethren are learning Tamil and we should do the same. If you don't get this message, go and learnbEnglish first.

    Independent Friday, 10 June 2016 07:19 AM

    I respect Tamils, then are good friends. Why create problems. We Tamils and Sinhalese work at offices, we are good friends. SL Politicians should not try to divide us to gain their political victories. Northen politicians should not act to the cards of the Tamil Nadu politicians to gain their political victories. We Tamils and Sinhalese are all living as brothers and sisters in Colombo. We have no issues.

    S.P.RAMKUMAR Thursday, 09 June 2016 08:46 PM

    if you hated at the time why did not you resign

    Ex President Thursday, 09 June 2016 06:58 PM

    Even I as sinhalese dont like for that horrible Bnayaka made it but your any other thinking do in tamilnadu. via DM Android App

    R.Sunthar Thursday, 09 June 2016 06:40 PM

    Is Sinhala only Act the beginning of the end of the unity of Sri Lanka(Ceylon)Tarzie Vitachchi raised this after the 58 riots"is it the parting of the ways?"

    Saro Thursday, 09 June 2016 05:19 PM

    Sri Lankans - Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims- in other countries are immigrants and have to learn the language of the country. But those who are natives of any country have the right to learn his mother tongue and to maintain a good relationship with other ethnicities they can learn their languages as well.

    rosebud Thursday, 09 June 2016 05:17 PM

    Many right thinking people hated the Sinhala Only Act -- a politically motivated law. We need to acknowledge this and move on rather than dwell on the past forever. via DM Android App

    Patriot (TM) Thursday, 09 June 2016 11:17 AM

    Sinhala is the language of Sri Lanka as Tamil is the language in Tamil Nadu. You cannot refuse to learn the language of any country. It's a citizenry requirement. Ask your Tamil brothers in Norway or France to refuse Norwegian language or French and see what happens to their citizenships. You should have given up your Sri Lankan citizenship too, why you held on to it? Only weak governments tolerate this kind of crap and do not strictly implement citizenry requirements.

    Dumbo Thursday, 09 June 2016 12:54 PM

    This is the type of thinking we need to change. Do all Sinhala judges know to speak in Tamil?

    usuf Thursday, 09 June 2016 12:49 PM

    Dont worry Sir. It was one of d Election gimmicks of late SWRD who was a very pious Catholic later embraced Buddhism to achieve pol. ambition via DM Android App

    Sharon Thursday, 09 June 2016 12:34 PM

    Thank you Sir. Your advice to learn Sinhala is encouraging. We need to know both languages, if we need reconciliation.

    Siril Thursday, 09 June 2016 12:23 PM

    Couldn't you learn Sinhala from books and men when you were schooling sir?

    Kumar Thursday, 09 June 2016 12:16 PM

    Then he is not suitable to become a supreme court judge.

    communelist Thursday, 09 June 2016 12:08 PM

    Shut up!

    Sheri Thursday, 09 June 2016 11:53 AM

    Who cares - go to Norway! - your people are there????

    victor Thursday, 09 June 2016 11:30 AM

    At least and at last he talks sensibly . Knowing the national languages is paramount importance to all SriLankans. There are Lankans who can't speak in proper Sinhala or Tamil but spend time in learning Hindi.Academic and Professional exams too should have exams for National languages as a subject.

    Chux Thursday, 09 June 2016 11:27 AM

    pls go and live in Tamil nadu


Add comment

Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Reply To:

Name - Reply Comment





Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

VAT increase: SOUNDs death knell for publishers, readers

Though the Government imposed VAT (Value Added Tax) on vegetables and other e

How female change-makers are driving Sri Lanka’s energy saving platform

Saving energy has become more of a responsibility than a habit in today’s c

A dull Ramadan awaits Muslims amidst the Soaring Cost of Living

In the coming days, Muslims across the world will welcome the Holy Month of R

New wildlife underpass to curtail HEC

As of February 2024, Sri Lanka lost another 38 elephants as a result of the H