Colombo City Centre Celebrates World Oceans Day with Sri Lanka’s first larger than life-sized Whale installation in a Mall

Colombo City Centre (CCC) of Abans Group, Sri Lanka’s premier lifestyle destination, proudly marked World Oceans Day 2025 with a powerful message on marine conservation. The mall unveiled a massive, hyper-realistic whale installation, a first-of-its-kind for any shopping centre in the country, drawing attention to the urgent need to protect Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems and its gentle giants of the ocean.

The stunning installation, conceptualized and brought to life by Events by Shero, stretched across the CCC atrium, leaving visitors in awe of its scale and detail. Designed to appear as if trapped in a net, the sculpture represented a whale in distress — a poignant visual metaphor for the challenges faced by these majestic creatures due to unethical human activities and environmental threats. This immersive centerpiece was not only a visual highlight but a moving call to action for the public to reflect on how daily choices impact marine life.

In line with the global World Oceans Day 2025 theme, “Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us,” CCC collaborated with the leading marine conservation organization The Pearl Protectors, who led a series of engaging and educational activations throughout the mall. Their locally adapted theme, “Ocean in Agony,” was powerfully communicated through advocacy zones, an art and photography exhibition, interactive AR and VR experiences, and live community engagements that gave a voice to ocean protection efforts.

The two-day event held on June 7 and 8 featured marine education booths, and a "Your Voice Matters" station, where guests could contribute ideas for marine protection policies and make pledges to support ocean-friendly habits. Visitors also had the chance to engage with marine experts, participate in quizzes and hands-on learning sessions, and experience the ocean like never before through cutting-edge virtual reality technology.

Speaking about the initiative, Supun Perera – Chief Executive Officer, Colombo City Centre stated, "as a socially responsible lifestyle destination, Colombo City Centre is committed to more than just commerce — we are committed to the community and to our environment. This year’s World Oceans Day celebration was not just about creating a spectacle; it was about sparking dialogue, education, and ultimately, action. We are proud to have worked with The Pearl Protectors and Events by Shero to deliver a deeply meaningful and impactful experience."

The activation drew large crowds, with families, students, environmental advocates, and tourists coming together to admire the installation and take part in the awareness activities. The campaign was also widely shared on social media, amplifying its reach beyond the walls of the mall.