(Xinhua/NAN)

Sri Lanka’s cabinet of ministers on Tuesday approved sign language as a recognised means of communication and decided to advise the legal draftsmen to draft the relevant bill.

Local media on Tuesday quoted the Government Information Department as making the announcement.

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In a statement, the department said the proposal was tabled by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

It said the proposal would help make sign language as a recognised means of communication in accessing educational needs, legal matters, health facilities, various government services and private services.

A recent study by the Ministry of Health showed that nine per cent of the total population of Sri Lanka suffered from some sort of hearing disorder.