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Mariyakadey The place name Mariyakaday in Maradana has, over a period of time covering at least three centuries, acquired a dubious reputation or notoriety similar to that of London’s fish market which gave to the English vocabulary the word “Billingsgate” meaning foul and abusive language. At first glance the name appears to have connections with the Christian religion and the Roman Catholic church with its reference to Mary or Maria the mother of Jesus. But to trace its origin it is necessary to go back three centuries to a time when Colombo city (except for the present day Pettah and the west end of the Fort) was a vast water- logged area which took the name Beira, meaning “swamp” in Portuguese. In this scenario there was no MaCallum Road (D. R. Wijewardana Mawatha), Fort Railway Station, Lake House, Lotus Road, Olcott Mawatha (earlier known as Norris Road). All these formed ...