'English speakers only'?

Nottinghamshire postmaster Deva Kumarasiri, who moved to England from Sri Lanka 18 years ago, is refusing to serve people in his post office if they cannot speak English.

Read the full story here

BBC news website readers have been responding to this story all day. Here are a selection of your comments:

I think Mr Kumarasiri is correct. I work as a check out operator. I get customers who cannot speak in English. I give them a pen and paper and ask them to draw what they want. I know that is a ridiculous method but what else can I do? My seven year old daughter has the same experience. She says she can't understand some of her friends and she is planning to learn many other languages so that she can understand them!
Nimali, Cambridge

What an outstanding person Deva is. He learnt English and works hard. He just expects other immigrants to do the same, it's very reasonable.
John, Arizona USA

This has nothing to do with race and everything to do with basic communication.

Mike Clarke, Devon

The majority of people who come to this country do speak English. However some people do try but they find it difficult to speak for many reasons. This man needs to know that Britain is a very multi-cultural and a multi-lingual country. To serve a customer he doesn't need to have fluent English.
Fahim, London

Good on him. He's the true spirit of Britishness. He came here, learned the language, got a job and contributes to society - not 'our' society, not 'his' society, but the wider British society. If only more people were like him. Hurray for Mr Kumarasiri!
Grant, Bristol

I'm an Indian, and very proud of it, I totally agree with the postmaster's comment and stand by his stance. People are afraid of being labelled 'politically incorrect' to take logical steps that will eventually help more people make a positive effort in learning how to speak English.
Hem, Leicester, England

Whilst I agree that when resident in a country one should speak the language, some thought should be given to visitors. The Post Office is a location which many foreign visitors will use to send home the mandatory postcard.
Ray Garrood, Gross Polzin, Germany

This has nothing to do with race and everything to do with basic communication. It's about time this cynical "it's racism" reaction is treated with the contempt it deserves. Of course any service industry needs to be able to understand what its customers want. If customers can't communicate those wants in comprehensible terms, it is incumbent upon them to learn the means of doing so.
Mike Clarke, Bideford, Devon

I have lived and worked in Spain for the past 20 years and when I arrived in the country I had to learn Spanish fast! In official offices if you cannot understand the language or cope with the forms, a translator is on hand but at your expense. Similarly official forms are available only in Spanish. I have absolutely no problem with this, I am now fluent in Spanish and enjoying the lifestyle. It is my belief if you live in a foreign country you should learn the language and follow their rules, not the other way round.
Mike Griffin, Sotogrande, Spain

Mr Kumarasiri is exactly right. Britain is a multi-cultural country only because it welcomes all. It does not mean immigrants should take it for granted. Learning English will not only help public services become more effective, it is good for the individual too. If one speaks only his language, his opportunities are limited. It is a bold stance by the postmaster.

Ruwan Kotuwelle, Los Angeles, USA

How does the gentleman react to deaf people who can't speak?
D England, Horsham

Some people do try to learn English but they find it difficult to speak for many reasons.

Fahim, London

I quite agree with Mr Kumarasiri. How is he supposed to deal with the dozens of languages spoken by people who might go into his Post Office? If they want to use the services he offers it's up to them to get a dictionary to translate what they want just as I would expect to do if I went to any other country. He is trying to run a business not a charity.
David E, Bracknell, UK

It's true that people who migrate to another country have difficulty communicating in that country's language. Where do we draw the line? There are many who migrate to be with their children at older age. If you force English upon them it's hard for them to learn and they cannot function in that country.
Mahinda, USA