COLOMBO, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka on Monday said it would resume construction of the world's tallest Christmas tree at the Galle Face Green in Colombo after it was suspended last week.
The Port and Shipping Ministry, which is responsible for the construction of the tree, said that construction would resume immediately on Monday.
Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said that the tree was being solely constructed on private funds and dismissed rumours that government funds were being used for the project.
Karunanayake said that he and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who visited the Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith on Sunday had clarified this matter and informed him that no government funds were being used to construct the Christmas tree.
The construction of the Christmas tree was halted last week following objections raised by the Archbishop of Colombo, 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 is being funded by the Arjuna Ranatunga Welfare Fund and is being constructed using iron, old wood material, chicken wire mesh and vinyl flowers.
