The budget allocates money to build houses, roads and bridges but not to make people’s brains or hearts, he has told a meeting on dual language policy organized by the Centre for Policy Alternatives in Colombo.

He said his ministry has the responsibility of implementing the national languages policy and to create national reconciliation, but not even the government leaders have yet realized their importance.

He said he was prepared to respond if his remarks were raised in the cabinet meeting.

Ganeshan said he would start a college of languages to create teachers who could teach the Sinhala, Tamil and English languages.

However, all these are hampered by a shortage of funding, he said, adding that he would seek same from the international community.

Noting that the language issue has led to the national question, he said proper understanding between the peoples who speak the two main languages could help resolve the matters.