Cabinet approval was granted for a proposal made by the Public Administration Ministry to amend the Public Administration Circular no 07/2007 relating to the Implementation of the official languages policy and its amendments.

According to the proposed amendment, a pass in the subject of 'Second Language' Sinhala/Tamil at the GCE O/L examination would be accepted instead of a pass in the Sinhala Language and Literature/Tamil Language and Literature as a main subject (core subject) at the GCE O/L examination, which had been specified as an alternative qualification to obtaining the written proficiency in the Second Language for certain public officers. Furthermore, other public officers, too, if they wish to do so, have the opportunity to fulfill the relevant written proficiency requirement by obtaining a pass in Sinhala/Tamil as "Second Language" at GCE O/L examination, instead of passing the written tests conducted by the Department of Official Languages.

Therefore, action may be taken to apprise the relevant officers of the aforesaid, facts, as well as, the closing date of applications for the GCE O/L examination, scheduled to be held in December 2013, being extended by the Commissioner General of Examinations, up to July 5, 2013.

An amended circular, incorporating the proposals contained in the Report approved by the Cabinet of Ministers, will be issued in the near future.