Letters

London calling!

Although he was neither an astrologer nor futurologist, D.T. Devendra, some 40 years ago, made a prediction as to how the name of a road in Cinnamon Gardens would change with time.

Many decades ago, the Colombo Municipality, with practised servility, named a few roads after James Longden (note the 'e'), one of the more obscure colonial governors of this Crown Colony.

One day, on his way to meet his friend Dr. G.P. Malalasekera, who lived at 12, Longden Terrace, DTD met a sign-painter confused at having to paint an 'e' in the road name - while his inclination was to paint 'o' which he felt was correct. DTD assured him that 'e' was correct and, in passing, predicted that the road will ultimately become 'London'.

We are now almost there. 'Longd-O-n' is now the version on signboards. A recent signboard near SLIDA had the name correctly painted with an 'e'. But shocked local residents quickly repainted the correct 'e' with the now customary 'o'.

I wonder how long it will take for the CMC and residents to feel that 'London' should not be spelt with a 'g'?

Tissa Devendra

Colombo 5