Sign language to be recognized in Sri Lanka as means of communication

03 Jun, 2025

Sign language is to be recognized in Sri Lanka as a means of communication and the Cabinet has decoded to finalize the relevant Bill in this regard.

The Cabinet noted that by establishing sign language as a recognized language, the hearing-impaired community in Sri Lanka will have access to information.

The Government said the move will also ensure the hearing-impaired have total participation, and equal opportunities in all activities in society.

In 2021 the Cabinet of Ministers had approved a proposal presented by then 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 the Cabinet originally on 8 September 2010.

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