Colombo, March 20 (Daily Mirror) – A massive mural which was put up at the Viharamahadevi Park early yesterday ahead of a protest highlighting ecocide in Sri Lanka, was taken down by officials yesterday allegedly on the instructions by high ranking government officials, the Daily Mirror learns.
The mural which was 70 x 20 feet was made by children who are part of the Youth Wing of the Wildlife Nature Protection Society, which had organized the protest yesterday afternoon at the Viharamahadevi Park. The mural highlighted ecocide in the country such as killing of elephants, deforestation and destruction of elephant corridors.
The organisers of the protest told the Daily Mirror that the mural was put up early on Friday but by late yesterday morning, authorities requested to remove the mural stating that necessary permission had not been obtained.
After producing the clearance by the Colombo Municipal Council to put up the mural, authorities alleged that they had received instructions by high ranking government officials to take down the mural as permission had not been obtained. Organisers said following a heavy media presence at the time of it being removed, authorities decided to put it up again but later removed it and returned the mural back to the organisers.
One of the organisers said that despite the mural being taken down, over 2,000 people attended the protest to speak against the destruction of the environment and a majority of those who attended were the youth.
The protest went ahead as planned without the mural which was removed from the area immediately.