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Christmas tree builders erect Rs 12m private cash defence
View(s):Construction committee Chairman says the tree was to promote religious harmony and promote tourism
A 12 million rupee showcase Christmas tree project branded as a colossal waste is hoping to save itself by pleading that private enterprises funded it while insisting that public money was not spent by the Ministry of Ports and Shipping.
Halted: The construction of the tree at Galle Face
But the Archbishop’s House says while it had been told of the project, it had not been informed of the cost and the ambition of becoming a world landmark.
The ministry has said however, halting the project is also wasteful, now that it is nearly complete.
More than three months after work began, the Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka (CBSL) headed by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith objected to the project this week and called for the money to be spent on charity.
The Ports Ministry said Cardinal Ranjith was informed before work began and that the committee in charge had also written to Pope Francis.
Construction committee Chairman Mangala Gunasekara said the tree was to be completed byDecember 22, but that it would be dismantled if there was no consent from the Archbishop’s House.
He said he had been told the Cardinal was in hospital, while the secretary too was not available.The tree was to be illuminated with 800,000 LED bulbs. But now in the wake of delays only 300,000 will be used. It will be decorated with two million pine cones. A Santa and a sleigh are also a part of the installation.
Mr. Gunasekara said the Rs 12m estimated cost was contributed by private companies. “We have never spent any money from Sri Lanka Ports Authority on this project.”
He said Rs 6 million worth of raw material was received. He also noted that up to 150 people, including lorry drivers, volunteered their labour.
“It was meant to showcase and strengthen religious harmony among the ethnic and religious groups. Besides, it had been planned so that it will set a Guinness world record as the world’s tallest and the largest Christmas tree,’’ Mr. Gunasekera explained.
“Moreover, it was decided to boost tourism through this project as this would attract tourists. It has been reported that most of the hotel rooms in Colombo have already been booked in advance due to this project,” he claimed.
A spokesman for the Archbishop’s House said that although the Ministry of Ports informed them about the Christmas tree, no details were shared about the cost and that it was to be the world’s tallest. Rev. Fr. Jude Fernando, administrator at St. Anthony’s Shrine Kochikade also said he was not aware of the cost. But then, he also said it could be seen in a positive light, “to promote harmony and co-existence among religions’’.