The Sinhala Only Act was enacted in 1956 in Sri Lanka, making the Sinhala language the sole official language of the country. This legislation aimed to promote the use of Sinhala in government and education, reflecting the majority Sinhala population's cultural identity. However, the Act marginalized the Tamil speaking population, leading to significant social and political tensions. The policy contributed to the rise of ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka, ultimately resulting in a prolonged civil war that lasted for nearly three decades.