The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) was forced to put on hold a decision to re-name 57th lane in Wellawatte as ‘Colombo Tamil Sangam Lane’ in recognition of a well known cultural centre along the road, after Western Province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranathunga said he was revoking permission he had given earlier for the name change. [...]

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New name for 57th Lane faces road blocks

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The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) was forced to put on hold a decision to re-name 57th lane in Wellawatte as ‘Colombo Tamil Sangam Lane’ in recognition of a well known cultural centre along the road, after Western Province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranathunga said he was revoking permission he had given earlier for the name change.

The Chief Minister said he had received petitions, from four residents in Wellawatta who objected to the date, November 25, for the ceremony to rename the road. The petitions said it coincided with ceremonies that marked the birthday of slain LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakharan that fell on November 26.

Mr. Ranathunga who was to be one of the special invitees at the renaming ceremony confirmed with the Sunday Times that the renaming ceremony was stopped due to the reasons cited in the petitions.

“Even though I had given approval for the re-naming of 57th Lane as ‘Colombo Tamil Sangam Lane’, after taking into consideration several facts brought to my attention, I annulled the earlier order,” the Chief Minister said in a letter addressed to Colombo Municipal Commissioner Bhadrani Jayawardena, dated November 23.

Commissioner Jayewardene had already sent out invitations for the opening ceremony of “Colombo Tamil Sangam Lane”. The ceremony was organised by the CMC on behalf of Senior Vice President of the United People’s Front and CMC councilor Dr. V.Kanghaiverniyan, J.P., and was to be held under the patronage of the Western Province Governor Alavi Moulana, Chief Minister Ranathunge, Colombo Mayor A.J.M.Muzzamil and Deputy Mayor Titus Perera.

The proposal to rename the road had been made by councilor Kanghaiverniyan who said he believed the new name would enhance the value of the road because the Tamil Sangam cultural centre had done a lot for Tamil Culture for over 64 years.

“A resolution was passed in favour of the renaming by the Colombo Municipal Council and prior approval was obtained from the Chief Minister of the Western Province,” Dr. Kanghaiverniyan said, adding however even after a four week objection period which is given after the gazette notification of the intended change is made public, the Chief Minister has called off the event at the last moment following several petitions against it.

The Sunday Times learns that Mayor Muzammil has written to the Chief Minister requesting a favorable solution to the matter .

“ I will sort out it in the near future,” the Chief Minister said.




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