Understanding the First Official Language of Sri Lanka

The question asks about the first official language declared in Sri Lanka. An official language is a language given a special status in a country or state, used in its government, courts, and administration.

Historically, Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) used English for official purposes during the British colonial era. After gaining independence, there was a movement to replace English with local languages.

In 1956, the government of Sri Lanka passed the Official Language Act, often referred to as the 'Sinhala Only Act'. This act declared Sinhala as the sole official language of the country, effective from January 1, 1961. This decision was highly controversial and had significant political and social consequences, particularly impacting the Tamil-speaking population.

While Tamil was later given official language status through subsequent constitutional amendments (the 1978 Constitution and the 13th Amendment in 1987), Sinhala was the first language to be granted official status under the Official Language Act of 1956.

Therefore, based on the historical declaration via the Official Language Act of 1956, the first official language of Sri Lanka was Sinhala.

Let's look at the options provided:

• Sinhala: This was declared the sole official language in 1956 by the Official Language Act.
• English: Was used during the colonial era but was not declared the first official language after independence.
• Malayalam: This is a language primarily spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and is not an official language of Sri Lanka.
• Tamil: While later granted official language status, it was not the first official language according to the 1956 act.

Based on the historical facts and the options, Sinhala was the first official language of Sri Lanka declared after independence.

Revision Table: Sri Lanka Official Languages

Additional Information on Sri Lanka's Language Policy

Sri Lanka's language policy has been a significant aspect of its post-independence history. The declaration of Sinhala as the sole official language in 1956 aimed to promote the language of the majority but alienated the Tamil minority.

Over time, recognizing the need for national reconciliation and inclusivity, amendments were made. The 1978 Constitution designated Sinhala and Tamil as official languages and English as the link language. The 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1987 further reinforced the status of Tamil as an official language, giving it equal status with Sinhala.

Understanding the sequence of these events is crucial. Sinhala was the *first* language to be officially declared the language of the state after the departure of the British, though Tamil gained this status later.