Tallest Christmas tree in South Asia?

The tallest and largest Christmas tree in the island, and perhaps in South Asia with a height of 116 feet is the main attraction of this year's Christmas celebrations in Kilinochchi.

This is another initiative of the Security Forces Commander, Kilinochchi, Major General Udaya Perera to foster religious and cultural reconciliation and harmony among communities.

The tallest Christmas tree made by the Security Forces in Kilinochchi.

The Christmas tree at night

Over 75 soldiers worked day and night for the past three weeks to complete the Christmas tree. Army engineers used more than 325 scaffoldings and 249 GI pipes to complete the structure and 25 truck loads of cypress tree branches were used to give it a natural look.

This 50-foot diameter and 116-foot tall Christmas tree has more than 59,000 bulbs, and colourful decorations.

The tree will be on display up to December 31.

This year's Christmas celebrations at Kilinochchi would show the world the determination of the Kilinochchi people to stand with the troops deployed under Security Forces Headquarters, Kilinochchi to preserve and carry forward cultural and religious heritage.

In 2012 the Security Forces in Kilinochchi installed an 82-foot high Christmas tree. A mega Christmas celebration organised by the Security Forces which commenced on Friday will end today.

The people of Kilinochchi were denied the right to celebrate any cultural or religious festival along with the rest of the population in other parts of the country for almost 30 years due to terrorism are able to do so now.

This year's Christmas celebrations is believed to be the largest religious festival ever in the Kilinochchi district.

The festival was organised to strengthen the bond between all ethnicities and religious communities thus letting the younger generation understand our cultural diversity.

Kilinochchi was one of the highly affected areas due to terrorism.

However with the defeat of terrorism, it is one of the fast developing townships in the island.

The celebrations include Christmas Carols, presentation of scholarships to 689 students in Kilinochchi, presentation of three imported professional racing bicycles worth nearly Rs 1 million, a carnival and a musical show by the band Agni.

Two hundred and fifty school bags and 500 solar energising CFL bulbs will also be distributed among schoolchildren.

Courtesy: Asian Tribune