Christian community not for largest Christmas tree

The Christian community in Sri Lanka, have in a joint statement, expressed disaapointment at the construction of a large Christmas tree at Galle Face in Colombo.

A statement by the National Christian Council noted that the?birth of Jesus or the commonly celebrated ?Feast of Christmas?, is fundamentally a message and a commemoration of ?Hope?.

“We are saddened to note the latest addition to the celebrations in the erection of the tallest ?Christmas Tree? in the world at Galle Face Green. What is alarming and disturbing is the fact that the placement and location of this giant ?Christmas Tree? with all its glamour and splendor, purposefully and discreetly hides the pride of human sin in the ?Port City Development?. This development project raises serious questions and will have severe consequences on the environment, livelihoods and the displacement of our people,” the joint statement said.

The National Christian Council of Sri Lanka called upon all people to observe and celebrate the birth of Jesus with joy but also in a sense of sacredness of true spirituality, rooted and guided in Scripture.

The joint statement was signed by Rev. D.R. Canagasabey, Chairperson of the National Christian Council of Sri Lanka and Bishop of Colombo, Church of Ceylon. Diocese of Colombo, Rev. Dr. Daniel S. Thiagarajah, Bishop of Jaffna Diocese, Church of South India, Asiri P. Perera, President/Bishop, Methodist Church of Sri Lanka, Priyantha Wijegoonawardene, President, Sri Lanka Baptist Sangamaya, Stanley Nelson, President, Christian Reformed Church, Saman Perera , President, Presbytery of Lanka, Colonel Alistair Venter, Territorial Commander, The Salvation Army, G. Nadarajah, President, Lanka Lutheran Church, W.P. Ebenezer Joseph, General Secretary, National Christian Council of Sri Lanka, Michael Dissanayake, Chairperson, Assemblies of God of Ceylon and Leslie Keegal, President, Church of the Four Square Gospel Church in Sri Lanka.

Young Men?s Christian Association (YMCA), Young Women?s Christian Association (YWCA), Student Christian Movement (SCM), The Ceylon Bible Society, Christian Literature Society, Back to the Bible Broadcast, Theological College of Lanka, Colombo Theological Seminary and the Youth for Christ.