Re-naming of Colombo street cancelled
By P K Balachandran | ENS - COLOMBO
03rd December 2012 11:17 AM
The government of Sri Lanka’s Western Province had cancelled the re-naming of a street in Colombo as “Colombo Tamil Sangam Lane” on the suspicion that the Sangam is linked to the LTTE, says Mano Ganeshan, a Colombo-based Tamil leader.
The street in question is the 200-yard-long 57th Lane in Wellawatte, a largely Tamil-speaking area in South Colombo. The lane has been home to the 70-year-old Sangam, a nerve centre of Tamil literary activity in the Lankan capital.
Ganeshan told Express on Sunday that the Western Province Chief Minister, Prasanna Ranatunga, had told him that he had cancelled the re-naming because he was told that the renaming ceremony was part of the observance of the birth anniversary of the slain LTTE leader V Prabhakaran and the observance of the LTTE’s Great Heroes’ Day. The renaming was to take place on November 25, while Prabhakaran’s birth anniversary was on November 26, and the Great Heroes’ Day was on November 27. Of late, the Lankan government has been very apprehensive about LTTE resurgence in the island.
No “official” Reason
However, the Chief Minister’s official letter of cancellation had not cited any reason. But Udaya Gammanpilla, a minister in the provincial government, said that residents of the area had objected to naming the road after a particular ethnic group, on the grounds that people of all communities were living along the road. These objections would be inquired into before taking a decision, he added.
However, since the issue has been agitating the Tamil-speaking people of Colombo, the Chief Minister has called for a meeting on December 4.
At the meeting, the Sangam’s office-bearers, Tamil litterateurs and Tamil lovers are expected to stoutly defend the non-partisan and apolitical character of the Sangam. AHM Azwer, an anti-LTTE ruling party MP, but a Tamil lover and a contributor to the Sangam, said that the institution was so apolitical that it would not invite politicians unless they were litterateurs or patrons of literature.
Among the many Tamil scholars from India who had addressed the Sangam in its 70-year history were: K A P Viswanatham, M P Sivagnanam, Kundrakudi Adigalar, Abdur Rahman, M M Ismail, Asokamitran, V R Nedunchezian and Komal Swaminathan. The Sangam was patronised by renowned Tamil scholars like professors K Sivathambi and M M Uvais.
Post a Comment
Recent Activity
- For team Rahul, it’s good politics that will yield rich dividends for poor Indians
- Four years of UPA-II
- Nine years as PM: What will be Manmohan Singh's legacy?
- Maharashtra’s aid to digitise rare manuscripts in Thanjavur
- 'Climate change may spell disaster for coastal economy'
- Lanka’s woman Thavil players fading away
- Pakistan's answer to electricity shortages: Don't wear socks
- All dead, no vultures fly in Andhra now!
- CM can go his way: Ramesh Chennithala
- BSNL Ernakulam posts Rs 390-crore turnover
- Knowledge and faith
- Names of UPA ministers will surface in IPL spot-fixing: Swamy
- BrahMos missile test fired from Russian warship
- Chennai Super Kings beat Mumbai Indians, reach IPL finals
- Yasin Malik’s support for Sri Lanka Tamils a sham
- Incredible India! Cuppa at Rs 1,200 is Chiru’s idea of sustainable tourism
Comments(5)
This is the true nature of the paranoid anti-Tamil nature of the Sri Lankan state,
Posted by Kaz at 12/04/2012 03:39 Reply to this Report abuse
The grate problem for mano ganashan it is not possible to commemorate the terrorist LTTE heroes day that’s why he stated to cry offering the stupid sangam road . He should understand this is our country we can change anything we want I am really no his days are counted it is very near.
Posted by marugua at 12/04/2012 09:58 Reply to this Report abuse
The Sangam authorities waited 70 years and want the street to be named on Nov.27. Propose another day. Let the authorities to prob whether other residents are against the move. Ganesh has made this a point to prove the government is discriminating Tamils in Colombo, how can he prove it, while majority of Colombo residents are Tamils especially major trade cartels. They are thriving business in Colombo and their major customers are Sinhalese. No Sinhalese opposes or intimidates in their activities. LTTE terrorism destroyed more Tamils and their generation than Sinhalese. It is now gone, and let Tamils raise on their own feet. Chauvinistic Tamil politicians such as late Chelvanayagam once misled Tamil youth like Prabakaran promising them an Utopian separate state. All you well know the repercussions. I do not say the current rulers are doing justice, they are neglecting the very Sinhalese who sent them to power seats. Politicians all over the world are serpents, so be cautious.
Posted by Mahattaya at 12/04/2012 11:37 Reply to this Report abuse
The Sangam authorities waited 70 years and want the street to be named on Nov.27. Propose another day. Let the authorities to prob whether other residents are against the move. Ganesh has made this a point to prove the government is discriminating Tamils in Colombo, how can he prove it, while majority of Colombo residents are Tamils especially major trade cartels. They are thriving business in Colombo and their major customers are Sinhalese. No Sinhalese opposes or intimidates in their activities. LTTE terrorism destroyed more Tamils and their generation than Sinhalese. It is now gone, and let Tamils raise on their own feet. Chauvinistic Tamil politicians such as late Chelvanayagam once misled Tamil youth like Prabakaran promising them an Utopian separate state. All you well know the repercussions. I do not say the current rulers are doing justice, they are neglecting the very Sinhalese who sent them to power seats. Politicians all over the world are serpents, so be cautious.
Posted by Mahattaya at 12/04/2012 17:43 Reply to this Report abuse
I think this article is a very biased article. as a person who has signed this article the following is the real facts: 1)Sangam is a commercial establishment. 2)In 1942 World War 2 was in full flow and wellewatte was a desereted town then. 3) until recently the premises of Sangam carried a old house and the current buildings are definitly not 70 years old. 4)there are tamil, sinhalses and muslim community living down this road. 5) only tamil citizens have been asked for no-objection letters. 6)any person who uses the road can protest as against the CMC saying only residents can prtoest. 7)notices of the name change have not been posted on the road and houses. 8) Sangam provides tuition classes and accomodation for students. 9)you are naming a road on a ethnic flavour. 10) this is part of a main trunk road connecting Galle Road and Hampden Lane and the other portion has a name"Rudra Mw" 11)Have 2 names for a main trunk road.first in the World I have heard this far. 12)too long name
Posted by Dilshan Weerasinghe at 12/04/2012 23:29 Reply to this Report abuse