Don’t meddle with road names

Further to the letter appearing in The Island of 14.7.03 by P. S. Wickramasuriya who objects to the change of name of Kotugodella Veediya, I wish to state that on no account should names of roads be changed as it inconveniences the residents as well as visitors.

When the name of my road was changed for no reason, I informed the CEB, Telecom, Water Board, friends, relations, banks etc; as I feared that my letters may not be delivered. This was bad enough but the CEB, Telecom and Water Board wanted proof of the change of name. I had to go several times to the Municipal Council to get this. I was made to wait several hours each day and finally told that it would be posted to me.

It is ridiculous to replace names with meaning (eg. Hospital Road, Hill Street). These names at Dehiwala were replaced with names of people each having five words, too long to be written on a small envelope. It looks as if in the not too distant future all roads in Sri Lanka will have peoples’ names!

I hope all MCs and UCs will understand and stop this unnecessary exercise. If they really want to do something, should do something to benefit the people, how about removing the roadside garbage and repairing the roads for which everyone will say thank you.

S. Perera