Cabinet nod for drafting sign language bill

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as the Minister of Finance to make the necessary provisions by an Act of Parliament for making sign language a recognised means of communication, and to advise the legal draftsman to draft a relevant bill.

The decision to accept sign language as a recognised language was approved by Cabinet originally on 8 September 2010. 

The Government said there is a significant hearing-impaired community in Sri Lanka. They will be empowered by recognising sign language as a recognised means of communication in accessing educational needs, legal matters, health facilities, various government services, and private services. “Therefore, the need to draft a bill designating sign language as a formal means of communication has been identified,” the Government added.