Construction of a Tallest Christmas Tree At Galle Face Stopped

 Ministry of Port said to have been funding erection of a tallest  Christmas  tree at Galle Face.

 The construction of a Christmas tree on Galle face is a sheer waste of money, and those responsible for this work should be asked to use the funds to construct houses for poor people or provide scholarships to poor children, said the president of the Bishops’ Conference  Colombo Archbishop, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, yesterday.

He said the market economy was selling Christmas and making religion a tool. “The late Rev Fr. Marceline Jayakody propagated the idea that, ‘My Christmas is the day the poor have a meal of rice.’

We too hold this view and we can really enjoy Christmas only when the poor join in,” he said. “This year the theme of Christmas is ‘The Family’. There is a distinct breakdown in family relationships in Srilanka . This is evident in migratory families, and the Bishops’ Conference is planning to bring this to the notice of the government.

After considering the views  expressed by Colombo Archbishop, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith,  erection of a tallest  Christmas tree at Galle Face is temporally  abandoned , said deputy Minister of Port.