National Plan of Action for the Implementation of LLRC Recommendations – Responsibilities by Agency (October, 2012)
Recommendation
Activity
Partner Agencies
Key Performance Indicator (KPI)
23
Timeframe
3. The Official Language Department conducts classes for public officers on a payment basis. 4. Awareness programs on the Implementation of the Language Policy are been carried out to the staff of the District Secretariats, Provincial Administration and the Divisional Secretariats by the Ministry. 5. 72 Divisional Secretariats identified as Bilingual Divisional Secretariat Divisions. 41 Divisional Secretariats were gazette, 31 Divisions Secretariats to be gazetted as Bilingual Divisions. 6. Bilingual Facilitation Centers have been established in the District Secretariats. A National Integration Promotion Assistant is assigned to the district and two translators have been assigned to the District Secretariat by the Official Language Department who would assist the citizen in obtaining the services of the language of their choice. 7. Through the Bilingual Cells the citizens would be able to obtain their services in the language of their choice. 8. Official Languages Department has established a panel of translators and uploaded with the details of the translators in the service they provide. 9. The initial steps have been taken to establish an Online Translation Service. 10. A Translation Unit is being established by recruiting of Graduates with language skills. 11. Awareness programs on the Implementation of the Language Policy are been carried out to the staff of the District Secretariats, Provincial Administration and the Divisional Secretariats by the Ministry. 12. Police Stations have been instructed to ensure that the people are provided the opportunity to record their statement in their own language and same is posted in the Complaint Book. Police officers are provided extensive training in the second language. NILET has provided Master Trainers to Provide Training to the staff of the Police training institutions to ensure an effective training. 9.248 1. The Official Languages Commission (OLC), Act is being amended as per the directions given. 2. The OLC has delegated authority for the NIPA Assistants presently in the Districts, to attend to specific functions in order to assist the Commission in carrying out the work. 3. Provincial Languages Centers to be establish in three Provinces in Kilinochchi, Ratnapura and Polonnaruwa. 4. Kilinochchi would be the Centre which would cater for the Northern Province. All services provided by the Ministry, Department of Official Languages, NILET and Official Languages Commission will be provided at this Centre will function by July 2013. (The Canadian Government has already agreed to donate 25 million to purchase the furniture and 24 million will be obtained from the treasury to refurbish the building of the Kilinochchi regional Centre). 9.250 1. Discussion is underway to look into the possibility to appointing retired Tamil officers to the Police Stations on a contract basis. 2. New Tamil Officers recruited are assigned to the Northern and Eastern Provinces. 5.
6. Use interpreters in public offices as appropriate to facilitate communication until long term programmes are put in place.
Monitor observance of language rights recognized in the Constitution Identify additional remedial measures required to ensure observance of language rights
Monitoring activity completed Additional remedial measures identified and
12 months 24 months