LOTUS TOWER TO BE INAUGURATED IN SEPTEMBER 2018

Completion of the Lotus Tower, which was scheduled to be completed in March, has been postponed by six months, the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC) said.

While finishing touches for the 350m tower, the second tallest tower in South Asia once completed, had already begun.

“We postponed the opening to September and we are working towards this deadline. However, it is doubtful that we will be able to complete the project and ceremonially open it by then,” the source said.

Speaking of the delay, the official said that testing out machinery and obtaining approval for several necessities for the project was the

We postponed the opening to September and we are working towards this deadline. However, it is doubtful that we will be able to complete the project and ceremonially open it by then

priority at the moment.

“We are landscaping the surrounding area and also completing the finishing touches to the spaces inside. The final stage of the project will take some time to be completed.”

The Lotus tower was initially expected to be completed by October 2017. It will house telecommunication antennas, offices and other leisure activities and will be the tallest building in Sri Lanka.

Construction of the tower costs US $ 104 million and eighty percent of the cost will be funded by the EXIM Bank of China.

The tower is to have telecommunication museum, restaurant, supermarkets, food courts, conference halls with seating capacity for 400 people, a 1,000 seat auditorium, luxury hotel rooms, ball rooms and an observation gallery.

Constructed on a 10 acre land the first few floors of the tower will be allocated for malls, parks and parking facilities while the upper floors are to be provided specifically for telecommunication purposes.

Under phase two plans are being made to construct a theme park, shopping mall and car park. PICS BY NISAL BADUGE