The National Council for the protection of Sri Lanka’s Irrigation Culture filed a complaint before the Criminal Investigations Department urging it to conduct an investigation in this regard.
According to the department of Meteorology naming cyclones in the Indian Ocean commenced since 2004.
Sri Lankan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman & Pakistan are among the countries which have made submissions for naming cyclones.
Among the names submitted Sri Lanka during the recent past have come up with 8 names which include Mala, Rashmi, Bandu, Mahasen, Priya, Asiri, Gigum & Soba..
The names Mala, Rashmi & Bandu which were submitted by Sri Lanka were adopted
respectively during 2006, 2008 & 2010.
The name ‘Mahasen’ was opposed due to its historic context, a king who had worked towards the sustenance of agriculture in ancient Sri Lanka.
However the Department of Meteorology has already withdrawn the name ‘Mahasen’.
General Secretary of the National Council for the protection of Sri Lanka’s Irrigation culture Nimal Weerathunga despite the Met. Departments move has threatened to observe a sathyagraha before the Met. department.
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According to the Director General of the Met. Department H.S. Kariyawasam submitting names for cyclones is not a process which was adopted recently.
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Moreover General secretary of the Bodhu Bala Sena organization Venerable
Galagodaaththe Gananasara Thero expressed these views with regards to naming a cyclone Mahasen.
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