CHAPTER 04

A Sri Lankan Reflection on International Mother Language Day

Every year on February 21st, the world celebrates International Mother Language Day. For many, it may be just another date on the calendar. But for us, as Sri Lankans whose mother tongues are Sinhala and Tamil, it feels like a quiet return home. Because our languages are not just something we speak. They are something we carry.

Before I understood the world, I understood Sinhala. It was in our conversations, our teachings, our lessons, and in our celebrations. The curved letters of Sinhala, so round and graceful, and the elegant script of Tamil, rich with history and rhythm, mirror the softness and strength of the people who speak them.

Sinhala was the language that taught me how to say “අම්මා” before I knew what love meant. Tamil too carries that same sacred word, “அம்மா,” spoken with the same tenderness, the same comfort, the same unconditional love. It was the language that taught me how to say “රට ” before I knew what responsibility meant. Tamil teaches the same sense of belonging through words like “நாடு,” reminding us that land and identity are deeply connected.

And as I grew older, I realized that this comfort was not mine alone. It was something shared by millions across our island. Sinhala was not just living in my home; It lived in temple chants. In poetry etched on ola leaves. In folk songs sung while harvesting paddy fields. In letters written by hand to loved ones far away. Tamil too lived and flourished, in ancient Sangam poetry, in kovil hymns, in classical music, in stories passed down through generations.

Both languages survived because our people carried it in their hearts, even when history tried to silence them.

International Mother Language Day reminds us that languages are fragile. Around the world, many are disappearing. But both Sinhala and Tamil, with its ancient roots and literary richness, still stands strong, because we continue to speak it, teach it, and love it.

Beyond that,language shapes how we think. It shapes how we feel. It shapes how we dream. Both Sinhala and Tamil have words that don’t translate easily into English – words filled with cultural warmth, humor, and subtle emotion. When we say “ආදරෙයි,” or “அன்பு,” it carries a tenderness beyond “I love you.” When we say “සතුට,” or “மகிழ்ச்சி,” it feels deeper than just “happiness.”

Our languages hold our history, our values, and our way of seeing the world. They teach us respect through honorifics, humility through tone, and teaches us belonging through shared understanding.

In a world that moves fast and speaks louder in global languages, it can be easy to drift away from our mother tongues.But speaking Sinhala or Tamil is not old-fashioned. It is powerful. It is revolutionary to hold onto your roots in a world that pushes you to blend in.

We can learn English. We can speak to the world. But we must never forget the languages that first taught us how to speak at all. Teach them to your children. Write in them. Sing in them. Post in them. Be proud of them. Because when we protect our languages, we protect our identity.

Sri Lanka is beautifully diverse. Sinhala, Tamil, and many other languages live within our island. On this day, we celebrate all mother languages – because each one carries someone’s story, someone’s childhood, someone’s truth. When we respect each other’s languages, we build unity. When we honor our own, we build strength.

International Mother Language Day is not just about preserving words. It is about preserving dignity. It is about honoring our mothers and the voices they gave us.

Today, we celebrate Sinhala and Tamil. The languages that will always feel like home. Because no matter where we go in the world, when we hear them spoken, our heart knows – we belong.

Penned By:

Rtr. Savini Yasanayake

Editorial Committee Member 25.26