It is said that language means 'expression of thought or emotion by means of words, spoken or written'. It embraces sign language too.

In 1876, English became the language of the maritime provinces of Ceylon when the British conquered it from the Dutch. With the signing of the Kandyan Convention on March 2, 1815, the Kandyan Provinces, too, came under the political suzerainty of the British. Thereupon, English for all intents and purposes became the language of records of Ceylon, as it was then known. In those by-gone days, the English-educated Sinhalese felt so proud to proclaim that they despised the 'language of the natives'. Even a person who had a scant knowledge of English would boast of his 'profound knowledge of English'.

In 1914, a Sinhala plaintiff gave evidence in English in his case. The English Judge found him unable either to 'understand questions put to him in English or was he able to express his ideas intelligently in that language'. So the Judge wanted him to give evidence in Sinhala, his mother tongue but the plaintiff felt that it was below his honour to give evidence in Sinhala and so he refused. Upon his refusal, the judge dismissed the case. On appeal, then Supreme Court made order mandating the plaintiff to give evidence in Sinhala lest dismissal would be deemed to be affirmed. It was the fashion of the day for the English-educated Ceylonese to speak 'English only'.

It is strange as fiction that the pioneers to exhort the Sinhalese to speak Sinhala were not the Sinhalese. The first was an Englishman, F.L. Woodward, Principal of Mahinda College, Galle. He proclaimed, "if you cannot read the very language in which your nationality is enshrined, or speak the tongue which reflects its underlying life, you become at once a pariah. You will not be acknowledged as belonging to your nationality".

The other person was a Tamil, Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, who said, "If you do not speak your language on public platforms, in railway carriages and in drawing rooms you will not stand up for your national institutions, then I say none of you deserves to be called Sinhalese. The nation will be ruined and we must await with trembling knees the early destruction of the Sinhalese language".

In 1939, W. Dahanayake, as Mayor of Galle, was the first to conduct the proceedings in Sinhala. In 1944 in the State Council, Dahanayake said, throw out English from the pedestal it occupies today and place thereon our Sinhalese and Tamil languages and we shall soon be a free race'.

So after a decade and two years, Sinhala Only Act was passed replacing English with Sinhala. However, the father of that Act, S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike did not make his children pundits in 'Sinhala only' but made them to receive English education. Politics is deceit and that is the politics of Sri Lanka.

Today in terms of our Constitution, English is a 'link language' though it is not defined. The political unity of Sri Lanka is paradoxically the result of the British rule. Greek once did unite Europe. So did Latin when Europe was torn by differences in all respects. In the same manner, English will be a vehicle to bring a common bond of spirit to bind all the races in Sri Lanka. It has rooted very deep in all the branches of Sri Lanka. English has become a necessity to many of us for our livelihood, for commercial and professional purposes, whether, accountants, doctors, engineers, lawyers or any other professionals. The inevitable damage consequent to abandoning it would be great. The needs of modern progressive life compel the retention of the study of English.

We have fair knowledge of English. It is unwise to throw away the asset that we have acquired on the grounds of commerce and employment by the use of English for the past two centuries. As a result of historical causes, English has attained the best medium for many purposes and it should not be driven away by wishful thinking. It has nothing to do with our status of sovereignty and integrity of the country. English has no foreign character. It is no more foreign than our legal, parliamentary and administrative bodies, all of which have firmly been adopted and confirmed for the use of the future of Sri Lanka. There is no shame to know an international language that has the greatest vogue and usefulness at the present age.

Whatever the force of nationalism may be, the past history of education cannot be ignored in shaping our future destiny. We should not pursue the mirage of prejudice, which will lead to frustration, disaffection and disintegration. If it is so, soon we will face a dearth of able men and good citizens with migration to other countries. We would not take risk for an illusory form of nationalism inconsistent with modern conditions and needs. Why should we throw away what we have? Are we paying any tax to any person to use English? Is it not a valuable asset? Does it not earn very high foreign exchange value? English is far more value than all that the exports that could earn foreign exchange to Sri Lanka.

History moves foreword. It cannot be forced back to its past as the river never runs back. English has become an essential part and will continue to be an essential part of the progress of Sri Lanka. Without English, we cannot keep up with world currents of modern culture and civilization. It is a window of knowledge. There is no valid reason why we should ever give up English. By taking away English, we are axing the very root of our unity and progress and it will bring discord, disharmony and disunity to multi-ethnic Sri Lanka.

The false patriotism of Sinhala Only will make us loose the most valuable asset, English. The best form of patriotism is to have a clear-cut policy, while not allowing us to be overtaken by sentiment, ignoring the dire consequences of our acts affecting the whole country and the still unborn.

The unity and smooth running of life in Sri Lanka depend on how best we make use of the English language. It is fallacious to mix up feelings of reverence or pride of classical love to interfere with a question of the use of English.

The illusory stigma of foreign-ness should be wiped out from English, which should be treated like a foster-mother. She will certainly bring racial amity, glory and riches to Sri Lanka.
The process of globalization mandates the necessity to study English. The function of our mother tongues, Sinhala and Tamil will be different from that of English. One cannot do what the other could do. More attention should be given to the teaching of English language. The medium of instruction in international schools is English but in government schools, English is confined to just one subject. This system of education would create two separate classes, both in political aspirations as well as value-orientation. The Government should take steps to bridge the gap otherwise this division would project an unhealthy society.

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