What’s wrong with the old road names?
The editorial, headlined “Treasury acting like the Kremlin” ( Sunday Times, March 4, 2012), refers to the highly questionable way Ceylon Petroleum Corporation acting chairman Wasantha Ekanayake was removed from his post by the Treasury. His crime? Calling for a settlement of outstanding debts.
As chairman, he was only doing his duty when he asked Srilankan Airlines, Mihin Lanka, the CEB, among other institutions, to pay up. Mr. Ekanayake, a former Finance Ministry senior official, should be praised for his courageous actions.
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation is suffering a colossal financial loss. The chairman’s reward for putting pressure on errant debtors was to be sent to the Siberia of the public service.
The Treasury is headed by P. B. Jayasundera, a controversial figure who was subject to a court decision but has the blessings of the Head of State. It seems that no one is taking responsibility for the sudden removal of Mr. Wasantha Ekanayake – neither the Minister in charge, nor the Cabinet of Ministers.
This is supposed to be a democracy. We see no change for the better in good governance. The adage “don’t knock your head against a rock” is very appropriate for these times. Some of these rocks are legacies of the sycophants who run the government, and not the Cabinet of Ministers.
The bitter truth is that Mr. Ekanayake was removed from his post as chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation in order to create a servile public service that serves the political needs of the powers that be. The consequences will damage not only the public service but the entire nation. Lionel Caldera
Battaramulla
A number of readers have complained about the changing of long accepted road names. I have yet to see a letter that supports the practice. This letter is to highlight an aspect not previously brought up.
Quite often, roads are named after living persons, such as Lester James Pieris Road, formerly Dickman’s Road, Colombo 4. I wonder whether the estimable individual, who may not personally have sought the name change, ever thought about the feelings of Dickman’s Road residents who loved the original name of their road.
In the case of living persons, no name can be used without the consent of the individual to be thus honoured.
I urge the authorities to not allow changes to long-established road names. Name changes are confusing and irritating, and entail expenses (change of nameboards, re-printing of letterheads, etc).
To re-name roads and remove references to historic colonial personages who have done a service to this country (such as Havelock or Dickman) only shows a lack of appreciation of our history and reflects a banana republic mind- set.
In Singapore, they have no hang-ups about their colonial heritage. In fact, they lovingly preserve the old colonial road names.
Via email Countrymen – You are the kings Of this blessed land, Crowned in grand style And with pageantry. If you are hungry, Eat some parippu with patriotism (Rajiv Gandhi is not around to give it free) And enjoy the peace Dividend, as we do.