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Sri Lanka erases colonial name, Ceylon

Sri Lanka's government has decided to change the names of all state institutions still bearing the nation's former British colonial name, Ceylon.

The government wants the country's modern name to be used instead. The decision comes 39 years after the country was renamed Sri Lanka.

The change will be made as early as possible in 2011.

Reaction has been mixed to the new year's resolution that gets rid of what some see as a vestige of colonialism.

The minister of energy submitted a cabinet memo this week to change the name of the Ceylon Electricity Board, whereupon the president suggested the name Ceylon be removed entirely....

Read entire article at BBC