Department of Meteorology officials have appologised for naming the recent cyclone as Mahasen after a Sri Lankan king who contributed immensely to the countrys irrigation system.
Addressing a media briefing held today at the department its Director General H.S. Kariyawasam said that his Department had however no intention to discredit the good name of one of the renowned kings in the country. Several civil groups protested in naming the cyclone after king Mahasen who ruled the country from 277 to 304 AD and built 16 large reservoirs.
Cyclone Mahasen killed 18 people and forced 1 million others to evacuate in Bangladesh, Myanmar and Sri Lanka, a fortnight ago. At least seven people have died and nearly 3,000 left homeless as the cyclonic storm Mahasen caused heavy rains in the north and eastern parts of Sri Lanka.