To implement internationalized domain names (IDNs) in Sinhala and Tamil, ICTA set up a Task Force on IDNs comprising representatives from ICTA, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRCSL), the LK Domain Registry (LKNIC), the Department of Official Languages, the UCSC, language experts and two ISPs.
It was imperative that the subject of IDNs is addressed as soon as possible. This subject was being addressed in the international arena and it was necessary for Sri Lanka to define the equivalent of Sri Lanka’s top level domain .LK in the Sinhala and Tamil.
Implementing Sinhala and Tamil IDNs will have an impact on all local language users; it will have national level impact. The Task Force on IDNs commenced work in May 2008. A public consultation process was followed and advertisements were placed in national newspapers calling for those interested to attend a workshop held in August 2008. Specific invitations were also sent to stakeholders. At the public consultation workshop, the IDN Task Force was able to ascertain the views of a wider representative gathering. Views of stakeholders and those interested were also collected through a questionnaire.
After reviewing the outcome of the public workshop and after further extensive discussion, following IDN ccTLDs for Sri Lanka were unanimously agreed on:
- It was agreed that the IDN top level domain for Sri Lanka in Sinhala would be .ලංකා (.lanka)
- It was agreed that the IDN top level domain for Sri Lanka in Tamil would be .இலங்கை (.ilangei)
Consequently the IDN equivalent for Sri Lanka’s top level domain .LK in Sinhala and Tamil - .ලංකා and .இலங்கை respectively – were announced at the inauguration of the eAsia Conference on 6th December 2009. Sri Lanka’s request for the top level domains .ලංකා and .இலங்கை were approved by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) in March 2010. These two domain names were launched by the LK Domain Registry in June 2010.
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