A mural painted on a wall of a supermarket in Pitakotte has sparked controversy, after its depiction of a dragon-like creature emerging from an American flag coming towards Sri Lanka.
Republic Next reports that the mural may be a possible nod to the widespread opposition in the south to the United States Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant.
Current Sri Lankan prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa claimed earlier this year that the agreement was “shrouded in secrecy” and the Bar Association of Sri Lanka warned there are “grave consequences that Sri Lanka would face as an independent and sovereign State in the event the GOSL proceeded to sign the MCC in that form”.
The previous Sri Lankan government had claimed that securing the $480 million dollar grant was a “great victory”.
"So as this “Muralism” drive is led by the SLPP youth, for those young minds, this was a natural work of art that they would want to display, after all, their party leaders had prevented this terrible American dragon from chomping down on our lovely little island,” reported Republic Next.
The mural, which was painted on the wall of a supermarket in Beddegana, is however now set to be replaced with another.
See more from Republic Next here.
All photographs courtesy of Republic Next.
We need your support
Sri Lanka is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist. Tamil journalists are particularly at threat, with at least 41 media workers known to have been killed by the Sri Lankan state or its paramilitaries during and after the armed conflict.
Despite the risks, our team on the ground remain committed to providing detailed and accurate reporting of developments in the Tamil homeland, across the island and around the world, as well as providing expert analysis and insight from the Tamil point of view
We need your support in keeping our journalism going. Support our work today.
For more ways to donate visit https://donate.tamilguardian.com.
