Oct 15, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government has identified 12 new divisional secretariats in nine districts that are required to use both Sinhala and Tamil as their languages in administration.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has declared that Dehiwala - Mount Lavinia, Ganga Ihala Korale and the Kandy Four Gravets and Gangawata Korale, Matale, Lankapura and Welikanda in Polonnaruwa, Ratnapura, Balangoda, Mawanella, Kekirawa, Vavuniya South and Dehiattakandiya divisional secretariats should use both languages in their administrations.

The President had reportedly made the order after considering the linguistic make up of these areas using the constitutional provisions that enable him to declare that both languages be used for administrative purposes in any area that requires a bi-lingual local administration.

The government has already commenced a policy of promoting a tri-lingual society in the country and according to Official Languages Department, the government is engaged in expediting this programme.

The move to declare 12 bi-lingual divisional secretariat areas is expected to help promote the programme.