Slave Island now officially called ‘Kompanna Veediya’

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama   

The Grama Niladhari Division in Colombo which was previously known as Slave Island would be now called ‘Kompanna Veediya’ (as it is pronounced) in all three languages.   
Earlier the area was known as Slave Island while it was called ‘Kompanna Veediya’ in Sinhala and ‘Kommpani Veedi’ or ‘Theru’ in Tamil. Now it will be called ‘Kompanna Veediya’ in all three languages.   

Cabinet approval and permission has been granted to publish a Gazette notification in this regard.   

The decision was announced during the weekly meeting to inform Cabinet decisions held at the Government Information Department yesterday morning.   
Hence the GN Division would be known as ‘Kompanna Veediya’ in the three languages hereafter.   

The Cabinet approved issuing a new Gazette notification while amending the previous Gazette notification (743/5), which was issued on December 1, 1992.   
The proposal in this regard was made by Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena in the capacity of the Minister of Public Administration and Local Government.   

Earlier, to coincide with the 75th Anniversary of Independence Day, the Prime Minister instructed the officials that the English name Slave Island should be changed to ‘Kompanna Veediya’ with immediate effect.