CONTROVERSY OVER THE NAME 'MAHASEN'

Wrong to say Mahasen for a whirlwind
Person who gave this name is absconding

     The name given to the whirlwind which was active recently over the Eastern Province was identified as Mahasen. Mahasen was a king who contributed in a large measure towards the development of Ceylon and is also known as the God of Minneriya. Now an issue has cropped up that this name is not suitable.

     The name Mahasen has been proposed for this whirlwind by the Committee for International Weather on the proposal made by Sri Lanka. Names for whirlwinds in the West too are used for easy use in reporting.

     At the request of the Committee, countries such as Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Thailand and Burma have supplied names while Sri Lanka has forwarded the names Bandu, Mahasen, Mala, Rashmi, Priya, Asiri and Sobha. A whirlwind which was active previously had been named as Bandu. This time the name Mahasen has been chosen.

     According to a proposal made in 2003 by Sri Lanka this name had been approved by the World Society for Weather and the Committee that holds membership in the Asia Pacific Ocean Economic Committee about Whirlwind relating to Bay of Bengal and Arabia.