By Yohan Perera   

Family members of the late Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam  yesterday defended the decision made by the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) to rename Horton Place after their late ancestor and revealed that  it was they who wanted the name change.   

Suresh Murugaser the great-grandson of late Sir  Ponnambalam Arunachalam told Daily Mirror that he and the family made a  written request from President Ranil Wickremesinghe to rename Horton  Place after their ancestor. “I made the written request from President  Wickremesinghe to rename the road one year ago. I wonder why CMC took a  long time to go ahead with the renaming,” he said.   

“We made the request as everyone in Sri Lanka knows what  my late great-grandfather had done for the nation. He was a pioneer in  forming a national congress in which late Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake  was also a member. Sri Lanka would not have had any political party  today if not for people such as my great-grandfather. British Governor  Willmot Horton whose name the road is carrying now stayed in Sri Lanka  for only six years,” he added.   

The country celebrated the birth centenary of Arunachalam  on January 9. The ceremony was held with President Wickremesinghe as the Chief Guest.   
Also, Mr. Murugaser said Sir Arunachalam actually resided down Horton Place and owned a nine acre land along the road.   

CMC had called for the view of the residents of Horton Place renaming and some have objected.