Colombo, Dec 7 (NIA) – Sri Lanka, on Wednesday said it would halt work on the ‘World’s Tallest Christmas Tree’ which was being constructed at the Galle Face Green in the capital.
The tree was being constructed by the Ministry of Ports and Shipping and was poised to be a large tourist attraction.
The tree was being constructed to send a message of peace and hope and also get Sri Lanka into the Guinness Book of World Recorods.
The suspension comes amidst objections raised by the Archbishop of Colombo, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, who
stated that the construction was a ‘sheer waste of money’.
The Archbishop said that funds allocated for the tree should instead be used to construct houses for the poor people or provide scholarships to the poor children.
The tree reportedly was funded by the Arjuna Ranatunga Welfare Fund and was constructed using iron, old wood material, chicken wire mesh and vinyl flowers.
The 325 ft tree was scheduled to be completed by December 22 and displayed for 10 days beginning on Christmas Day.
Mexico currently holds the record for creating the world’s tallest Christmas tree. The tree is 295 feet in height.
Ports and Shipping Minister, Arjuna Ranatunga, in August said the fundamental expectation of the Arjuna Ranathunga Social Welfare Society was to break this record and build the world’s tallest Christmas tree at the Galle Face Green.
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