The Sri Lankan Meteorology Department has apologised for naming a cyclone brewing in the Indian Ocean after a Singhalese king.
Sinhala Buddhist organisation, Ravana Balaya, objected to the cyclone being named ‘Mahasen’, saying it was a “foolish decision” to name a destructive force after a Singhalese king.
Ravana Balaya Secretary Ittekande Saddhathissa said his organisation would not object if the Meteorology Department re-named it "Cyclone Prabhakaran”.
The cyclone continues to be called Mahasen by other countries around the Bay of Bengal.