**The Act of Civil Rights of 1956 in Sri Lanka**

The Act of Civil Rights of 1956, also known as the Sinhala Only Act, was a significant piece of legislation in Sri Lanka's history. It was passed by the government led by Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and had a profound impact on the country's ethnic relations and language policies.

**Background:**

* Sri Lanka, a diverse nation with multiple ethnic groups, had been under British colonial rule until 1948.
* The British had implemented a policy of communal representation, where different ethnic groups were given separate electorates and reserved seats in the legislative council.
* This policy was intended to protect the interests of minority communities, particularly the Tamils.

**Key Provisions of the Act:**

* The Act declared Sinhala as the sole official language of Sri Lanka, replacing English. This meant that all government institutions, including the judiciary and administration, would use Sinhala as the medium of communication.
* Tamil, which had been recognized as an official language alongside English, lost its official status and was relegated to a regional language.
* The Act also mandated that all government employees, including teachers, must have a working knowledge of Sinhala within a specified time frame.

**Implications and Controversies:**

* The Sinhala Only Act was seen as a major blow to the Tamil-speaking minority community, particularly the Sri Lankan Tamils.
* It led to widespread protests and demonstrations by the Tamil community, who felt marginalized and discriminated against.
* The Act further exacerbated ethnic tensions and laid the foundation for the escalation of conflict between the Sinhala majority and Tamil minority in the coming decades.
* The Tamil community argued that the Act violated their rights to language, education, and equal representation.

**Long-term Effects:**

* The Act of Civil Rights of 1956 was a turning point in Sri Lanka's ethnic relations, paving the way for the rise of Tamil nationalism and the demand for a separate Tamil state.
* It laid the foundation for the subsequent policies that further marginalized the Tamil community, leading to the outbreak of the Sri Lankan Civil War in 1983.
* The Act was also seen as a symbol of Sinhala Buddhist dominance in the country, creating a sense of exclusion among non-Sinhala communities.

In conclusion, the Act of Civil Rights of 1956, or the Sinhala Only Act, had a significant impact on Sri Lanka's ethnic relations and language policies. It marginalized the Tamil-speaking minority community and led to long-standing ethnic tensions in the country.