Singing National Anthem in Tamil Challenged at the Supreme Court

The government’s move to sing the national anthem in Tamil at the National Independence Day celebration was challenged by the three residents of Kelaniya, who filed a Fundamental Rights petition with the Supreme Court yesterday against the decision.

The three petitioners, Sanjeewa Perera, Pradeep Asiri Zoysa and Don Premaratne, sought a declaration that National Anthem shall be sung in Sinhala language with Sinhala words in accordance with the Third Schedule of the constitution. The petitioners alleged that their fundamental rights guaranteed under Statute of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka have been violated through the government’s decision to sing the national anthem in Tamil language during the Independence Day celebrations. The petitioners have cited President Maithripala Sirisena and Attorney General as respondents. The petitioners pointed out that they named President Maithripala Sirisena as one of the respondents, since he participated as the chief guest of Independence Day celebration, while functioning as the executive president of the republic.