Now you do speak Sinhala officially in London Hounslow

(November, 30, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) The London Borough of Hounslow has recognized the Sinhala language as a community language since the 29th October 2007. According to Mr. Sikander Malik, Head of Community Languages (Translation And Interpreting Service), now anyone from the Sri Lankan community who lives in The London Borough of Hounslow who needs to access any Council services will be provided with an appropriate interpreter free of charge as required by the relevant Department.

It may be first time out of Sri Lanka the Sinhala language is recognized as a community language. Even the Sri Lankan Supreme Court still could not change it's official Language from English to Sinhala. The UK become a home to more than three hundred thousand Sri Lankans who migrated in the colonial era andto avoid post colonial ethnic conflicts. Tamils who are the two third of the Sri Lankan migrants in the UK have won the same language right longbefore the Sinhalese. Around 38% of Hounslow residents are from ethnic minorities. Hounslow is a town where you can hear sinhala vioces from every street.

Councillor Jagdish Sharma who become first Asian mayor in the UK and in Hounslow town council now Labour party group leader proposed to the councilto recognise the Sinhala language as community language. In the LBH the Sinhala Community language campaign started by Mr. Sri Lal Dias who is chairman of the Sri lankan Janahanda - a leading Sri Lanakan community organization in the UK.