Sri Lanka's Lotus Tower was built for an estimated $130 million. The construction of the tower began in 2012 under former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Since the construction began, the tower has been in the midst of corruption controversy.

Sri Lanka's 350-metre tall Lotus Tower set to open in Colombo

The 350-metre (1,155-feet) Lotus Tower, dubbed South Asia’s tallest structure, built for an estimated US$113 million with Chinese debt is all set to commence operations on September 15 in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo city.

This huge green and purple communications tower is one of several “white elephant” projects built with Chinese loans under Mahinda Rajapaksa, brother of ousted president Gotabaya Rajapaksa who had to flee in July following months-long protests over Sri Lanka’s dire economic crisis.&nbsp;

Its construction began in 2012 and has been plagued by corruption claims since then.&nbsp;According to reports, Mahinda wanted to copy Beijing’s 405-metre Central Radio and TV tower.

State-owned Colombo Lotus Tower Management Company, which manages this tower, said they are opening its observation deck for visitors from Thursday and seek to earn from ticket sales to mitigate losses as the maintenance cost is huge.

“We can’t keep this closed. The maintenance costs are huge. We want to earn the upkeep of the building and turn this into an entertainment centre,” chief executive Prasad Samarasinghe told reporters, according to AFP news agency.

This tall structure is majorly financed by Chinese loans to the tune of $ 88.65 million, while the rest has been borne by the Sri Lankan government.

According to the president’s office, the loan instalments are due to be completed by 2024, and around $66 million has been repaid.

However, many broadcasters say that the communications tower is of no use as it can neither cover the island nor improve current transmissions from a mountain in the centre of Sri Lanka.

On Monday, a local media outlet called it a “towering story of pride and waste”.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The 350-metre (1,155-feet) Lotus Tower, dubbed South Asia’s tallest structure, built for an estimated US$113 million with Chinese debt is all set to commence operations on September 15 in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo city.

The 350-metre (1,155-feet) Lotus Tower, dubbed South Asia’s tallest structure, built for an estimated US$113 million with Chinese debt is all set to commence operations on September 15 in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo city. This huge green and purple communications tower is one of several “white elephant” projects built with Chinese loans under Mahinda Rajapaksa, brother of ousted president Gotabaya Rajapaksa who had to flee in July following months-long protests over Sri Lanka’s dire economic crisis. Its construction began in 2012 and has been plagued by corruption claims since then. According to reports, Mahinda wanted to copy Beijing’s 405-metre Central Radio and TV tower. State-owned Colombo Lotus Tower Management Company, which manages this tower, said they are opening its observation deck for visitors from Thursday and seek to earn from ticket sales to mitigate losses as the maintenance cost is huge. “We can’t keep this closed. The maintenance costs are huge. We want to earn the upkeep of the building and turn this into an entertainment centre,” chief executive Prasad Samarasinghe told reporters, according to AFP news agency. This tall structure is majorly financed by Chinese loans to the tune of $ 88.65 million, while the rest has been borne by the Sri Lankan government. According to the president’s office, the loan instalments are due to be completed by 2024, and around $66 million has been repaid. However, many broadcasters say that the communications tower is of no use as it can neither cover the island nor improve current transmissions from a mountain in the centre of Sri Lanka. On Monday, a local media outlet called it a “towering story of pride and waste”. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Chinese-built Lotus Tower in Sri Lanka all set to open this week

In six days from now, Sri Lanka will go to the polls for the parliamentary elections which were delayed due to coronavirus. However, now, the elections are being compromised by China.

China wants to win this election, no matter who gets the votes. So, China is cultivating the biggest political influencers in Sri Lanka — the Buddhist clergy and leaders.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-tried-to-steal-vaccine-research-from-us-university-investigators-316899">Also read|&nbsp;China tried to steal vaccine research from US university: Investigators</a>

Last year, the Lotus Tower was unveiled in Colombo. The tower which is 350 meters high&nbsp;was built by China. It is named after the lotus Sutra one of the sacred scriptures of Buddhism even the tower's design draws inspiration&nbsp;from Buddhism -&nbsp;the religion of the majority Sinhalese community in Sri Lanka.

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The Lotus Tower is an example of China’s Buddhist diplomacy.&nbsp; It goes back to 2015 during another previous elections in Sri Lanka.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-professor-simon-ang-indicted-over-china-links-faces-44-counts-of-fraud-317016">Also read|&nbsp;US professor Simon Ang indicted over China links, faces 44 counts of fraud</a>

Reports say large payments were made from Chinese accounts to the Rajapaksa campaign and part of the money&nbsp;went to a Buddhist monk. The money involved was nearly $7 million. The payment was made by a company called China Harbor, the company that built the Hambanthota&nbsp;Port.

Out of these funds, $38,000 were allegedly paid to a popular Buddhist monk, a supporter of Rajapaksa.

As it turned out, he did not win the election but Chinese diplomats found a new partner in Sri Lanka — the Buddhist clergy.

In 2015, the Chinese ambassador met with monks of the Asgiriya chapter,&nbsp;one of the two most influential Buddhist orders in Sri Lanka. Last year, the chief monk of the&nbsp;chapter had accused Muslims of destroying the country.

Later that year, a Sri Lankan Buddhist delegation participated at the fourth World Buddhist Forum in China. More than 1,000 Buddhist monks and scholars from 52 countries were part of the event and the Sri Lankan delegation was among the largest.

China has been spending time, money and diplomatic capital to build influence in a key political bloc in Sri Lanka. However,&nbsp;it is not the only political bloc that China is trying to keep a tab on. China, that cracks down on Buddhists in Tibet is spending money to cultivate another short term relation.

In six days from now, Sri Lanka will go to the polls for the parliamentary elections which were delayed due to coronavirus. However, now, the elections are being compromised by China.

In six days from now, Sri Lanka will go to the polls for the parliamentary elections which were delayed due to coronavirus. However, now, the elections are being compromised by China. China wants to win this election, no matter who gets the votes. So, China is cultivating the biggest political influencers in Sri Lanka — the Buddhist clergy and leaders. Also read| China tried to steal vaccine research from US university: Investigators Last year, the Lotus Tower was unveiled in Colombo. The tower which is 350 meters high was built by China. It is named after the lotus Sutra one of the sacred scriptures of Buddhism even the tower's design draws inspiration from Buddhism - the religion of the majority Sinhalese community in Sri Lanka. × The Lotus Tower is an example of China’s Buddhist diplomacy. It goes back to 2015 during another previous elections in Sri Lanka. Also read| US professor Simon Ang indicted over China links, faces 44 counts of fraud Reports say large payments were made from Chinese accounts to the Rajapaksa campaign and part of the money went to a Buddhist monk. The money involved was nearly $7 million. The payment was made by a company called China Harbor, the company that built the Hambanthota Port. Out of these funds, $38,000 were allegedly paid to a popular Buddhist monk, a supporter of Rajapaksa. As it turned out, he did not win the election but Chinese diplomats found a new partner in Sri Lanka — the Buddhist clergy. In 2015, the Chinese ambassador met with monks of the Asgiriya chapter, one of the two most influential Buddhist orders in Sri Lanka. Last year, the chief monk of the chapter had accused Muslims of destroying the country. Later that year, a Sri Lankan Buddhist delegation participated at the fourth World Buddhist Forum in China. More than 1,000 Buddhist monks and scholars from 52 countries were part of the event and the Sri Lankan delegation was among the largest. China has been spending time, money and diplomatic capital to build influence in a key political bloc in Sri Lanka. However, it is not the only political bloc that China is trying to keep a tab on. China, that cracks down on Buddhists in Tibet is spending money to cultivate another short term relation.

As polls approach in Sri Lanka, China begins cultivating Buddhist clergy

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Sri Lanka's 350-metre tall Lotus Tower set to open in Colombo

Chinese-built Lotus Tower in Sri Lanka all set to open this week

As polls approach in Sri Lanka, China begins cultivating Buddhist clergy