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Lotus Tower construction to continue

18 April 2015 06:30 am - 42     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Following a meeting held with officials of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), the Urban Development Authority (UDA) had agreed to resolve the issue of the acquisition of land for the Lotus Tower within three months.

Earlier, the Ports and Shipping Minister Arjuna Ranatunga said that the land at D. R. Wijewardena Mawatha in Colombo 10 on which the Lotus Tower was being built was owned by the SLPA and that there were no documents to confirm that land had been acquired for the project.

However, the construction of the tower is nearing completion.

The Director General of the TRCSL, M.M. Zuhair said that in this regard the Cabinet had taken a decision to allow the UDA to resolve the land acquisition order.

Accordingly, officials of the three state institutions and the representatives of the Moratuwa University had met at the construction site of the tower two weeks ago, where the UDA had agreed to finalise the land acquisition in three months.

“The SLPA, UDA and the TRCSL agreed to allow the UDA to take care of the matter. Since the land is state owned, the UDA had been instructed to make any extra payments if the SLPA had made improvements to the land on behalf of the TRCSL,” Zuhair said. (Lahiru Pothmulla)

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  Comments - 42

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  • LKcricket Sunday, 19 April 2015 03:20 AM

    Our grate king Dhutugemunu considered the most influential king in the history for two reasons.!) Winning the war gains Elara2) Developing the country with reservoirs and historical monuments.The present regime of MY3 Ranila and Chndrapala Kumaratunge do not like similar situation is created in the annals of our history so they stop every thing that Mahinda started whether they are good or bad.

    Bala Saturday, 18 April 2015 06:24 PM

    Not saner counsel but new govt rectifyting all shortcomings of the haphazard way MR did things on whims and fancies. There should be law, order and systems - otherwise there will be chaos. This is real yahapalanaya.

    Anatove Saturday, 18 April 2015 07:48 PM

    With the forming of the new government, all the projects of the previous government were stopped mostly due to corruption charges. So far nobody have been charged for corruption and nothing has been done to prevent repeated occurrence. Delaying a project of this magnitude cost lots of money to the government. The poor people of the country has to suffer to pay these additional expenses due to the decision of the dump politicians.

    Godless Saturday, 18 April 2015 08:17 PM

    You have been psoting pro-MR comments all over DailyMirror but that completely acceptable because there is free speech nowEverything you say here is nonsenseThe Lotus Tower was never stopped and I work near it, Only a aland issue came and that is all

    Dulip Perera Saturday, 18 April 2015 09:08 PM

    Most of the projects started by the previous MR government has been stopped or stalled due to some egoistic attitudes of the current politicians for no actual faults of the projects themselves. Each of the current misters have their pet project objections and good or bad stopping one or more of these! They stopped the road projects to start with at the very beginning only to realise that was to no good, quickly re-started. Casinos are already happening in the country: alas stopped the big casino from coming in just because the current PM does not like it! He killed the hole project by putting his foot in the mouth! Deference building at Battaramulla was stopped in spite of having funds reserved and project 40% completed! convert that to a school? that is because the current Finance minister does not want the project! The Port project in essence has no major so called environmental issues as has been explained by many experts if the field! but stopped, because it was a political vow

    dilip Saturday, 18 April 2015 10:18 PM

    When the Eiffel tower was built for the world exhibition in Paris the year 1887, it was the ugliest monument in the eyes of the French . After three months they could not bare it any more , the prominent people in paris and the out skirts sent a petition to the government for it to be removed .During this period the telegraph system was a novelty ,and Mr. Eiffel had a great idea, for the antenna to be built on top of the tower;Thanks to his idea it was saved,and today Paris can not do with out the tower.Lot of people are employed, and it is bringing money daily to the city. In a nother ten ,twenty years Sri Lankan people will value the constructions such as Hambantota , Mattala and the lotus tower.

    HIran Saturday, 18 April 2015 10:25 PM

    the so called benefits of this tower is already being achieved by the humble ground based transmission towers. There is nothing that this tower will do, that is already done by the existing towers.This project is one of the many egoistic projects of MR. The name of the tower says it all. Yes go ahead and build it, let it be a monument to the blatant waste of public funds by mahinda rajapaksa.

    sri lankan Saturday, 18 April 2015 11:28 PM

    So all these projects have been initiated following the correct procedure and based on best funding advantages to the country and no corruption i can see because i am so blind.

    Narasingha Saturday, 18 April 2015 11:57 PM

    Little Sri Lankans know the true face of these Chinese national construction companies, China National Electronics Import and Export Corporation (CEIEC) and Aerospace Long-March International Trade Co. Ltd (ALIT) that are to construct this would be the peaceful LOTUS TOWER. The both Chinese Defense owned companies have no experience of construction but are very arm industry, especially spy radio productions. Now you know the true aim of the tower which Chinese Gov. plans by use of the tower. This will be a spy radio tower covering over South Asia, especially India. I fear radio devices in the tower to be provided by them divert all the information to China army. It should be stopped for the security of not only Sri Lanka but South Asia.

    Rama Sunday, 19 April 2015 12:09 AM

    Has this investment now got the yahapalana OK. That is Environmental Impact approval ,bribery commission approval, Financial investigation commission approval, Presidential Commission on Bribery and Corruption approval etc? BOI approval not required !

    Jayasingha Sunday, 19 April 2015 12:13 AM

    All previous govt: projects stopped will be re-started by this govt: as they have now realized that they have made a blunder by making false allegations for political reasons and now investors are shying off. This govt has nothing to show as development or plans in 100days. They are only opening projects that are completed by previous govts: like open air ZOO , Mahindodaya IT labs etc:

    Puran Appu Saturday, 18 April 2015 06:01 PM

    The new government should stop ONLY the CORRUPTION and continue everything else done by the previous government. Then people will call it YAHAPALANAYA. Only Western countries and TNA will not like it because they have a separate agenda.

    Temis Sunday, 19 April 2015 04:25 AM

    French got wealth to build towers because they got it from colonies. We have to burrow money and pay back with interest. In our case we got to select priorities wisely. Farmers need water, school childern need better facilities, old and sick need drugs, homeless need lands and houses. After serving the needy govt. can build towers and fill the sea to build cities. SELECT PRIORITIES WISELY.

    Ceylonese Sunday, 19 April 2015 05:00 AM

    Corruption is in our DNA. It becomes activated when we enter to the politics. DNA defects cannot be fixed.

    Raalahamy Sunday, 19 April 2015 05:06 AM

    I see no evil I hear no evil because I am deaf and blind.

    SL Sunday, 19 April 2015 07:59 AM

    I hear no evil. .i see no evil. .because I am deaf and blind

    observer Sunday, 19 April 2015 10:44 AM

    All the goos work conducted by previpus administration must continue in concept if not in contract. All these projects were looked into to see if we were overpaying anyone and whethere there qere shady deals. Anyhow we must make sure employment is given to those who deserve it and projects like these open more avenues for a lot of businesses.

    BuffaloaCitizen Sunday, 19 April 2015 12:27 PM

    This tower similar to Mattala Airport

    LogicalCitizen Sunday, 19 April 2015 12:31 PM

    Jagath, who says corruption? Same old politicians who sing a different tune now. Whom to believe? Maybe projects stopped so they present politicians can negotiate and pick pocket some money?

    Patriot Sunday, 19 April 2015 04:39 PM

    Better late than never. At last this Government is beginning to see the good in projects started by the previous regime. However, in the meantime the country has gone backwards and investor confidence down to serious levels, because of the new regimes foolish actions to blame the previous regime for anything and everything, including development work the present leaders cant comprehend.

    Senator Monday, 20 April 2015 11:11 PM

    Many of the projects were started by previous government before 2005.MR only went ahead to complete the stalled projects and initiate some new ones.Why is this government,specially RW blaming only MR and not himself too?

    siribiris Saturday, 18 April 2015 03:02 PM

    Good decision, thanks to President MS. Do it to other projects also. West don`t do any dam things to us, only try to take revenge of dismantlement their dream (breaking the country)

    Whammy Saturday, 18 April 2015 01:35 PM

    What exactly is the use of this tower to the poor in Hambantota, Jaffana, Anuradhapura and Batti. Dont tell me it is a tourist attraction because much taller towers have already been erected in countries where tourists come from.

    Sri Lankan Saturday, 18 April 2015 01:43 PM

    A wise decision by the authorities to continue what is acceptable with required modifications, without simply objecting to everything that the previous regime has started. This is the right way to go about..

    hiran gunawardena Saturday, 18 April 2015 01:43 PM

    Govt stopped all construction done by MR govenment. Now suddenly they realised they all covered with wild and time to clear up and show the country that they are doing good something so they can fool voters next election. Thats what they think anyway via DM Android App

    Telecom Saturday, 18 April 2015 01:48 PM

    With this new tower, can the authorities consider removing some of the towers that could be made redundant. This tower should be considered a common user facility partly funded by all mobile operators for transmission facilities provided.

    Gobson Saturday, 18 April 2015 01:51 PM

    So you want all projects started by the previous regime completely stopped or canceled?

    Ryan Saturday, 18 April 2015 02:13 PM

    No future with people like you for this country

    MightyAnt Saturday, 18 April 2015 02:34 PM

    So the tower was built illegally. If an ordinary citizen did such a thing he will taken to police custody and then to courts. In this case someone gave permission for the construction. The guy or guys have to face justice if we have a "yahapalanaya".

    MightyAnt Saturday, 18 April 2015 02:50 PM

    The worldwide trend is to deliver TV and vedio on cable, coaxial or optical fiber. This tower is obsolete for TV transmission in the future.

    SL Saturday, 18 April 2015 02:53 PM

    Nuts ?

    kge Saturday, 18 April 2015 02:59 PM

    The use of this tower is to facilitate as a telecommunication hub where all microwave communication links would interconnect. In addition all TV and radio transmission for western region could be made from this tower. Similar towers which act as communication hubs exist in all major cities.

    de silva Saturday, 18 April 2015 01:15 PM

    All these projects started by the previous regime is now slowly starting.What was told before the election is noe only a dream.Who knows suddenly they will say we are starting the Casino hotel also.

    How to do Saturday, 18 April 2015 03:03 PM

    Good. Dont say anything about continuing MR policies because they will make this investment also go away just to make a point. Respected international Analysts without political affiliation with substantial knowledge of our tiny financial markets are saying that petty politics are driving away valuable Chinese investments to the country. The World Bank said Thursday that this will drive down GDP growth through lower FDI that will also make the poor man suffer.

    How to do Saturday, 18 April 2015 03:03 PM

    Good. Dont say anything about continuing MR policies because they will make this investment also go away just to make a point. Respected international Analysts without political affiliation with substantial knowledge of our tiny financial markets are saying that petty politics are driving away valuable Chinese investments to the country. The World Bank said Thursday that this will drive down GDP growth through lower FDI that will also make the poor man suffer.

    H.D.Gunaratne Saturday, 18 April 2015 03:42 PM

    At last, saner and wiser counsel has prevailed. These projects,irrespective of the regime which they were started,must go on if we were to keep pace with the developing world.

    Ryan Saturday, 18 April 2015 03:57 PM

    Can not agree with Mighty, there will be a wireless connection till cable starts, it will be hybrid

    Ryan Saturday, 18 April 2015 03:59 PM

    what illegal, all are government institutitons

    MightyAnt Saturday, 18 April 2015 04:14 PM

    Pinhead Ryan, read the current telecom journals. Even in Sri Lanka we have started FTTH, which is fiber to the home. One of the main product on FTTH is vedio or TV. Soon terrestrial transmission will be something of the past. An idiot showing his ignorance.

    Martin Saturday, 18 April 2015 05:02 PM

    This Govt should look at the projects that need PROROTY to serve the lowest income groups. I think the priority lies where the farmers need water for farming,homeless need decent homes, fishermen need to increase the catch, poor patients in hospital need drugs schools need toilets and the list of priority needs are quite long. Once these needs are fulfilled Govt can put up towers and other grandiose constructions. At the same time Govt should bring in foreign investments to create jobs for the jobless.But if we try to put up Burj Al Arabs with burrowed money there may not be much difference between MR and MS even without corruption and "family service". Some people who comment still do not see beyond their noses.

    Jagath Saturday, 18 April 2015 05:18 PM

    The development projects should continue for the betterment of our country. Just ensure you have mechanisms in place to stop any further corruption taking place.

    Damien Saturday, 18 April 2015 05:40 PM

    This government tried to cancel all projects brought by MR because they did not simply want any credit to go to MR for the development of Sri Lanka.The Sri Lankan public is not stupid as this government perceives


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