ERAVUR : Seyed Ali Zahir Moulana, former State Minister and Member of Parliament and Deputy Leader of S.L.M.C has strongly condemned the unilateral decision of the Eastern Province Governor, Anuradha Yahampath.for trying to rename the Punakudah Road as Elmis Walgama Road.
“ Truly disheartening that the Governor of the Eastern Province is attempting to abuse her powers and incite unwarranted tension between communities by renaming a major road in Eravur, Batticaloa without consultation and against the resident community’s wishes under the guise of paying tribute to a late businessman from Galle,” Moulana told Colombo Times on Wednesday, March 29.
The former legislator explained that the Punnakudah Road is a major thoroughfare that runs through the heart of Eravur town, connecting the A15 highway all the way to Punnakudah beach. It is the primary access route for the area’s commerce including that of the newly established Eravur Fabric Park – developed and promoted by the BOI to inject FDIs into the country.
“ During my tenure serving as the Chairman of the Eravur Urban Council and as Member of Parliament, I expended many efforts to ensure that this road is developed to the level that it is today, which has paved the way to drive investments and boost commerce in the region and nationally.”
“ Renaming this major road unilaterally without a single bit of consultation of the town’s residents and stakeholders amounts to nothing but a perfect display of abuse of power by Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Viyathmaga Governor,” he said angrily,
“Batticaloa has a rich history and heritage, and if the road is to be renamed to reflect a person, place or thing – it should be its residents or their elected local representatives who should determine that, NOT an an indifferent fashion designer from Colombo appointed as Governor by an ethnically divisive President!”
On behalf of the people of Eravur, Moulana said : “ I urge the Governor in the strongest terms to repeal her order immediately on renaming this road, and to ensure that her unwarranted whims and actions do not contradict with the hopes and desires of the residents of the Eastern province who have lived here for generations and will live for many more!”
