January 18, Colombo (LNW): The residents of Horton Place have voiced their opposition to the Colombo Municipal Council’s (CMC) proposal to rename the road as “Ponnambalam Arunachalam Mawatha”, Daily Mirror reported citing residents.
Former Mayor of Colombo, Omar Kamil, raised concerns about the proposed renaming, highlighting that residents in the area received notices calling for objections to the change.
Kamil questioned the rationale behind passing a motion for renaming when the council has reportedly ceased to function for the past year.
The distributed notice informed residents about the motion passed by the CMC, outlining the proposed new name for the road. The specified stretch falls within the administration limits of the CMC, starting from assessment number 75 of C.W.W. Kannangara Mawatha and assessment number 75 of Horton Place, terminating between assessment numbers 11 and 120 of Horton Place.
Kamil also questioned the necessity of renaming the road, especially when there is already an avenue named Ponnambalam Arunachalam Avenue in close proximity, just off Horton Place, according to Daily Mirror report.
Former CMC Member Shermila Gonawala, commenting on the matter, indicated that no such motion had been presented during the council’s active days.
Gonawala conveyed that concerned residents, particularly women residing along Horton Place, had reached out to her, expressing their apprehensions about the proposed change.
They highlighted the potential inconvenience of altering various official documents if the renaming were to proceed.
The proposed renaming has sparked discussions and objections from residents, prompting a closer examination of the decision-making process and its impact on the local community, the report added.
