The Cabinet approved a proposal by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa as Finance Minister to make provision by an Act of Parliament for sign language to be a recognised means of communication and to advice the Legal Draftsman to draft the relevant bill.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal to accept Sign Language as a recognised as a language on September 8, 2010.
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.
The need to draft a Bill designating the Sign Language as a formal means of communication has been identified.