The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka CHAPTER IV LANGUAGE 18. 4[(1)]The Official Language of Sri Lanka shall be Sinhala. Official Language 5 [(2) Tamil shall also be an official language. (3) English shall be the link language. (4) Parliament shall by law provide for the implementation of the provisions of this Chapter.] 19. The National Languages of Sri Lanka shall be Sinhala and Tamil. 20. A Member of Parliament or 6[a member of a Provincial Council or a Local Authority] shall be entitled to perform his duties and discharge his functions in Parliament 7 [or in such Provincial Council or Local Authority] in either of the National Languages. 21. (1) A person shall be entitled to be educated through the medium of either of the National Languages: National Languages Use of National Languages in Parliament, Provincial Councils and Local Authorities Medium of instruction Provided that the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to an institution of higher education where the medium of instruction is a language other than a National Language. (2) Where one National Language is a medium of instruction for or in any course, department or faculty of any University directly or indirectly financed by the State, the other National Language shall also be made a medium of instruction for or in such course, department or faculty for students who prior to their admission to such 4 - Renumbered as paragraph (1) by the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution Sec. 2(a). 5 - Inserted by the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution Sec. 2(b). 6 - Substituted by the Sixteenth Amendment to the Constitution Sec. 2(1). 7 - Substituted by the Sixteenth Amendment to the Constitution Section. 2(2). 11