Colombo: In a move likely to further alienate the ethnic Tamils in the country, Sri Lanka has scrapped the Tamil version of its national anthem at official and state functions. Now the national anthem can only be rendered in the majority Sinhala language at official functions.

The decision was taken at the last Cabinet meeting headed by the President Mahinda Rajapksha, who pointed out that no country in the world uses the national anthem in other than one language, the 'Sunday Times' reported on Sunday.

"A directive to use only the Sinhala version is to be sent out by the Ministry of Public Administration. All government establishments will be called upon to adhere to this decision" the paper added.

President Rajapaksa told ministers that no other country uses more than one language for the national anthem. He cited an instance where one time Prime Minister, the late Sirimavo Bandaranaike, had walked out of a function in the north where the national anthem was played in Tamil.

He said there could not be two national anthems and that it was a shortcoming that must be rectified. "We must all think of Sri Lanka as one country," Rajapaksa was quoted as saying by Sunday Times.

The Sinhala version is widely used across the country except for the north and east where a majority speaks Tamil.

Minister Wimal Weerawansa supported President Rajapaksa's proposal. He said that even in neighbouring India, where around 300 languages were used, the national anthem was only in Hindi.

However, two Ministers voiced their dissent. National Languages and Social Integration Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara said the move would not be a suitable one.

Minister Rajitha Senaratne also endorsed the same view. Later, the Cabinet decided to adhere only to the Sinhala version of the national anthem.

Tags: Lankan Tamil, national anthem, Sinhala, Sri Lanka