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Lotus Tower to open tomorrow (Pics)
The Lotus Tower, dubbed as South Asia’s tallest structure, is to open its doors to the public tomorrow (15).
The 350-metre (1,155-feet) Lotus Tower, costing USD 113 million, is built with Chinese loans.
Speaking to the media, Deputy Secretary to the Treasury and Chairman of the Lotus Tower Management Company (Pvt.) Ltd. – Mr. R.M.P. Ratnayake said that after the business activities at the tower are initiated on Sep. 15, the tower will be opened to the public later in the same day after 2.00pm.
The tower will be open to the public from 2.00pm – 10.00pm on weekdays and from 12.00 noon – 11.00pm on weekdays. According to the company, the tower is to be lit up from 7.00pm – 10.00pm on weekdays and from 7.00pm – 11.00pm on weekdays.
Tickets
Tickets are priced at Rs. 500 and Rs. 2,000 for adults. The Rs. 500 ticket is for visiting as a part of a group while a Rs. 2,000 ticket would enable the ticket holder to proceed without no waiting and without having to join other visitors in groups. Tickets for children aged below 10 years are priced at Rs. 500. However, schools are able to contact the management for pre-booked school tours from Oct. 01 ( 0742012354 / 0742012357). A ticket for a schoolchild on a school tour will be priced at Rs. 200. Tickets for foreigners are priced at USD 20.
Opening in 3 stages
Speaking, CEO of the Lotus Tower Management Company- Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Prasad Samarasinghe said that the tower will be opened in three stages.
Noting that keeping the tower closed will only add to the financial losses of the tower, he said that the first stage will see the opening of the observation deck. Visitors will be able to enjoy a 360 degree view of Colombo city at the observation deck and join the entertainment events at the premises. All visitors will be allowed to the observation deck only once and will be allowed to remain there for 1/2 hour. Also, only around 150 visitors will be allowed at the deck at the same time.
The second stage, expected to follow in another couple of months along the line, will see the additions of a digital art museum, E-sport arena, digital banks, innovation centres, and a 30m high water show on the Beira Lake, the company said. The second stage would also see a change from the physical ticket to a QR code ticketing system. The company also hopes to add telescopes to the observation deck to view famous local landmarks such as Sigiriya and Adams Peak towards the end of this phase.
In addition, a 9D cinema hall and a revolving restaurant is expected to be added to the attractions of the third stage which is expected in March 2023 and the company hopes to make the Lotus Tower a fully functioning business entity by then.
5G supported
The company also hopes to host adventure sports such as bungee jumping and skydiving in the future.
The tower also hosts 8 elevators, including three of the fastest elevators in Sri Lanka, which enables visitors from the ground floor to reach the observation deck on the 29th floor in just 49 seconds. It also includes office spaces, luxury suites, sky lounge, banquet halls, a revolving restaurant and a 9D cinema hall.
The company also says that Lotus Tower would be a 5G supported tower from Sep. 15.
The company
Mr. Ratnayake noted that the premises of the Lotus Tower is fully owned by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission in Sri Lanka (TRCSL) and that the Lotus Tower Management Company is fully owned by the Treasury.
(Story & Pics : Shanika Jayasekara)
Photo Story
Jim Brown Nagar model village handed over to beneficiaries (Pics)
On 26 May 2025, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka – Santosh Jha and Deputy Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing – T. B. Sarath, jointly inaugurated and handed over Jim Brown Nagar Model Village in Mannar to the 24 beneficiary families.
The event was also attended by MP Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran – Mr. Ranjith Ariyarathne Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing; District Secretary, Mannar; Chairman and senior officials from National Housing Development Authority, and senior officials from the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing of Sri Lanka; Northern Provincial Council and Mannar District Administration.
The Model Village Housing Project is being implemented in all 25 districts of the island jointly with the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing of Sri Lanka with grant support from the Government of India. A Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India and the Government of Sri Lanka was signed for the project in October 2017. The project encompasses housing facilities for 600 low-income families of Sri Lanka, with a model village each consisting of 24 houses per district for families selected by the District Housing Committees.
Model villages under the project have earlier been inaugurated and handed over in 13 districts: Batticaloa, Vavuniya, Jaffna, Kandy, Gampaha, Anuradhapura, Badulla, Matale, Puttalam, Colombo, Trincomalee, Monaragala and Kilinochchi. The project progress is over 97% and the remaining model villages too are expected to be inaugurated and handed over to the beneficiaries soon.
Entertainment
‘Queen of Sri Lankan Cinema’ bids adieu (Pics)
The funeral of Malini Fonseka, revered as the ‘Queen of Sri Lankan Cinema’, was held yesterday (May 26) under state patronage at the Independence Square, Colombo 7.
Thousands of fans yesterday paid last respects to her both at her residence in Madiwela and at Tharangani Hall, where her remains lay in state, before being taken to Independence Square.
The iconic actress passed away on May 24 at the age of 78, while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo.
(Pics : Nirosha Jayawardena)
Photo Story
Vesak celebrated at Lankaji Temple in Japan (Pics)
Japan’s first Theravada Buddhist temple – the Lankaji Vihara held their 41st Vesak Festival on May 25 with a large group of Buddhist devotees from both Sri Lanka and Japan.
The festival was held in accordance with the Theravada tradition under the patronage of Ven. Banagala Upatissa Thero who is the President of Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka, Chief Sangha Nayaka of Japan, Chief Priest-Lankaji Temple, Japan and the Chief Monk of the -Sanchi Chethiyagiri Viharaya.
Newly appointed Sri Lankan Ambassador to Japan – Prof. Pivithuru Janak Kumarasinghe, and Member of Parliament – Shanakiyan Rasamanickam were also in attendance.
The Vesak meritorious festival organized by Ven. Koswatte Palitha Thero of Savara Lankaji Vihara and guided by Ven. Upatissa Na Thero. Ven. Galabada Assaji Thero of Lankaji Vihara performed the Sambuddha Pooja in the morning and midday as well as the Atavisi Gilanpasa Buddha Pooja in the evening.
The alms ceremony was conducted by the incumbent of Lankaji Vihara – Ven. Yatawara Pannarama Thero, while the Viharastha Dayaka Sabha organized morning and midday alms givings for the incumbent and visiting Maha Sangha at the temple.
Additionally, food and tea receptions organized by Sri Lankan families and institutions in Japan were held throughout the day at the temple.
Speaking at the event, Sri Lankan Ambassador to Japan – Prof. Pivithuru Janak Kumarasinghe praised the Ven. Banagala Upatissa Thero for guiding numerous young Sri Lankans in Japan for nearly forty years and expressed hope that his guidance would strengthen Japan-Sri Lanka relations, enhancing economic and cultural ties between the two countries.
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