Lotus Tower South Asia's tallest tower unveiled by Sri Lanka

-Sri Lanka on September 16 unveiled

South Asia's tallest tower

costing over $100 million.

-Though the tower is still under construction, President

Maithripala Sirisena decided to open the structure to

public.

-The design of this building is

inspired by the Lotus flower.

-The lotus symbolizes purity

within Sri Lankan culture

and is also said to symbolize

the country's flourishing

development.

Features of the Lotus Tower

-The 350-metre-tall 17-storey Lotus Tower, located in the

heart of Colombo city, comprises a television tower, a hotel,

a telecommunications museum, restaurants, auditorium, an

observation deck, a shopping mall and a conference centre.

-The tower, spread over an area of 30,600 sq. metres, was

constructed at a cost of over $100 million, 80% of which was

funded by China, Sri Lankan media reports said.

-Lotus Tower is foreseen to be one of the significant

landmarks and an epitome of the country's economy, culture

and development.

-The tower, which is expected to function as Sri Lanka's

'digital TV tower', is built with fibre optic cables and is fully

equipped with necessary telecommunication equipment.