Sri Lanka's Minister of Fisheries, Ramalingam Chandrasekar, expressed his dismay at the placement of Tamil as the third language behind Sinhala and English during an event in Jaffna last month.
The inauguration of the Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre in Jaffna featured a nameplate and an electronic screen where Tamil, the primary language of the region, was relegated to the third position.
The Minister noted this linguistic oversight while addressing the audience and called it both "alarming and upsetting." He stressed that in areas predominantly inhabited by Tamil-speaking communities, Tamil should be given priority in public signage and representation.
Chandrasekar also referred to the renaming of a cultural center in Jaffna, funded by the Indian government, to the "Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre." While he clarified that naming the center after the revered Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar was not problematic, he suggested that a name more reflective of Jaffna’s identity—such as the "Jaffna Cultural Centre" or "Jaffna Heritage Centre"—might have been more appropriate.
The Minister expressed disappointment that Tamil was placed third during the unveiling of the center’s new name, despite his presence as a guest at the event.
Acknowledging that such oversights may have been unintentional, Chandrasekar stressed the importance of rectifying these errors to avoid similar situations in the future. In regions where Tamil people live, Tamil should be prioritised, he asserted. He assured the public that discussions with the relevant authorities would be held to address the matter and to ensure greater linguistic sensitivity moving forward.
This incident has further fueled concerns over the marginalisation of Tamil by the Sri Lankan state, particularly in the Tamil homeland.
