Social Empowerment, Welfare and Kandyan Heritage Minister S. B. Dissanayake has proposed a ‘Sign Language Bill’ for the benefit of the deaf population of Sri Lanka.

The Cabinet of Ministers yesterday approved the Bill that will positively affect as many as 389,677 deaf population in Sri Lanka.

Earlier this year Social Empowerment Minister S. B. Dissanayake said Sri Lanka was in dire need of sign language interpreters as there were only 5 interpreters in the country at present. 

He said the education of deaf persons in the country was low compared to the blind and other disabilities and had asked the Cabinet to approve the recruitment of 50 sign language interpreters to help bridge the gap.