Features
Lotus Tower: A way forward for Broadcasting
by Shanthilal Nanayakkara
Retired Principal Engineer, Digital Transition Division,
Australian Communications and Media Authority, Canberra
The tallest multi-purpose tower in Sri Lanka, the Lotus Tower, is scheduled to be re-opened in September 2022, sans broadcasting facilities. In 2011, the then government of the day promoted and proposed a multi-purpose tower which was expected to provide facilities for broadcasting, telecommunications/defence activities. It’s dual purpose was also to showcase the local attractions from the tower top, with multi-faceted public facilities sprinkled on the ground. Indeed, the intention was a good one, particularly in view of the imminent arrival of digital technologies in broadcasting. Moreover, it was high time that Colombo invested on a multi-purpose tower facility which had the potential to consolidate all broadcasting and telecommunication services, currently scattered on numerous towers around the city.
One of the primary aims, from a broadcasting point of view, was to encourage co-siting of all wide and medium coverage broadcasting services, both Radio and Television, onto one main facility. Many broadcasting services currently operate from independent locations in Colombo, some at their own sites. But the time has come for consolidation to aid efficient spectrum management and viewer/listener convenience, allowing domestic receive antennas to be oriented in one direction. More importantly, the consolidation of digital transmissions is a high priority to ensure the minimisation of variance of digital signals of all services at receive locations to prevent disparities in coverage, short falls and drop-outs.
The original proposal of the broadcast facilities was to accommodate both analogue and digital radio and television broadcasting transmissions serving the greater Colombo area. The then news release by the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) indicated that the tower would be capable of accommodating 50 television and 35 FM radio services. This initial view of accommodating 85 broadcasting services in total is unlikely to materialise as discussed below in this article.
In September 2019, former President Maithripala Sirisena opened the Lotus Tower, sans broadcasting facilities. Now the Tower has other attractions but broadcasting and other communication facilities, which were intended to be the primary purpose of the tower, are absent.
Lotus Tower Broadcast Issues
It was my practice to conduct voluntary seminars to broadcasters and their staff, including Communications Engineers, on digitisation of broadcasting, during my visits to Sri Lanka over the years, so as to broaden their knowledge in these areas. Following one such seminar in 2015, I was asked about my views regarding a rumour that the broadcast antennas proposed for the tower were incompatible for wide coverage services. In order to assess the veracity of the rumour, I asked the questioner to provide me with information pertaining to the proposed designs. On receiving the design diagrams, I was aghast to see the incorrect and unsuitable nature of the proposed designs. After analysing the diagrams, I noted three major defects in the proposed designs;
Inadequacy of the proposed technical specifications to provide 35 FM and 50 Television broadcasting services covering Greater Colombo area;
The orientation of antenna plane was perpendicular to the ground instead of it being parallel to the ground (i.e. plane of polarisation of the antenna). I could not fathom how a contractor who may have had much exposure to such projects in their vast country and having possibly built many broadcast towers similar to the Lotus, could make such a simple error; and Absence of an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) on the potential impact of the cumulative electro-magnetic radiation levels on strategic locations close to the tower.
In order to facilitate wide coverage broadcasting signals, the antennas should be installed with their plane of polarization parallel to the ground but the proposed antenna diagrams for the Lotus Tower showed that the plane of polarization of the antennae were at right angles to the ground. This may help to serve a completely different purpose, thus reducing the broadcasting coverage capacity drastically. Around the same time, an Indian newspaper article had also questioned whether the Lotus Tower was to be used as a listening post to tap into signals from nearby countries.
I tried my best to reach out to politicians, including former President Maithripala Sirisena, to explain the problems confidentially and to provide solutions on a voluntary basis, given their sensitive nature. I went as far as getting appointments but was never given the opportunity to explain the situation directly. Another concerning fact was the absence of an EIS, even though there were key hospitals, hotels and luxury apartment complexes in the proximity.
In desperation, I approached the then High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Canberra, Mr. S. Skandakumar who without any delay approached the Minister for Telecommunications in the Yahapalana Government, Hon Harin Fernando. The Minister promptly got in touch with me but soon afterwards explained it was within President Sirisena’s portfolio responsibilities. As it was something in which President Sirisena had previously not shown any interest, I published an article in the Island Newspaper as a last resort, highlighting the apparent defects carefully leaving out information of a sensitive nature. Member of Parliament Vasudeva Nanayakkara’s questioning of the project in Parliament in 2016 was based on this article (published on August 16. 2016).
My next attempt was to bring these issues to the attention of the contractor’s local team of consultants. I understood that the local consultants were all structural engineers with no broadcasting knowledge but when contacted, they tried vehemently to discourage me from pointing out the defects.
Sometime in 2019, I came to know that the Telecommunications Authority of Sri Lanka had sought advice from two International broadcast antenna companies about the veracity of my findings published in the article. Both Companies had confirmed that I was correct and one company later contacted me via LinkedIn to convey this. It was only due to this advice that the installation of the antennas and associated broadcast facilities were stopped in the nick of time. Had TRCSL and the local Consultants initially taken up my free offer of help, the Lotus Tower would by now be serving its purpose and earning millions of dollars.
Lotus Tower: Resolution of Issues
To ensure that the Lotus Tower now fulfills its primary purpose of providing a consolidated multi-user broadcast and communication facility, a considerable effort and capital would be needed as I understand that the initial contract has been concluded. This capital expenditure is estimated to be close to US $ 50 million for the provision of broadcasting facilities. This outlay could be recovered over a number of years from the sharing fees levied from the broadcasters, provided a pragmatic business plan is developed by a public private partnership (PPP). Such practices are currently used effectively overseas at multi-user broadcasting facility sites.
The process to be followed is broad and not confined to work on the tower alone. It is also quite probable that the initial proposal of 35 FM radio and 50 Television services may need to be considerably reduced due to numerous issues that have previously not been taken into consideration. These issues are briefly explained in the tasks ahead that are listed below. The possibility that the Lotus Tower facilities are not likely to be available to the originally anticipated number of radio and television broadcasters, may not necessarily be an issue as some broadcasters may opt out of consolidated services from the tower and continue to use their own facilities. However, the scattered nature of broadcasting services in Colombo, if not addressed, could consequently lead to interference between broadcasting services.
Tasks Ahead
The five vertical columns on top of the tower, where the antennas are planned to be installed, have physical weight carrying limitations due to top loading and the impact of wind. Therefore, there is a maximum antenna panel weight capacity that is permitted in each part of the five columns;Depending on the permissible total weight on each section of the five columns, the maximum transmission capacity of each antenna would need to be determined;
After identifying the intended broadcast coverage in the Colombo region, the maximum number of broadcast services permissible from each section of the columns would then need to be ascertained;
A close examination of the existing frequencies allocated to broadcasters who plan to share the facilities, is also required to avoid interference between services. This is a particularly significant task ;
An evaluation of the projected cumulative Electro-Magnetic Radiation (EMR) levels would need to be conducted and appropriate mitigating antenna design strategies employed. This would enable EMR levels at strategic locations such as nearby hospitals and residential and office complexes to be within the Internationally recognised EMR limits for public exposure; and An acceptable Business Plan should also be developed to ensure broadcasters are encouraged to use the Lotus Tower.
by Dr Gotabhya Ranasinghe
Senior Consultant Cardiologist
National Hospital Sri Lanka
When we sought a meeting with Hon Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Health, he graciously cleared his busy schedule to accommodate us. Renowned for his attentive listening and deep understanding, Minister Pathirana is dedicated to advancing the health sector. His openness and transparency exemplify the qualities of an exemplary politician and minister.
Dr. Palitha Mahipala, the current Health Secretary, demonstrates both commendable enthusiasm and unwavering support. This combination of attributes makes him a highly compatible colleague for the esteemed Minister of Health.
Our discussion centered on a project that has been in the works for the past 30 years, one that no other minister had managed to advance.
Minister Pathirana, however, recognized the project’s significance and its potential to revolutionize care for heart patients.
The project involves the construction of a state-of-the-art facility at the premises of the National Hospital Colombo. The project’s location within the premises of the National Hospital underscores its importance and relevance to the healthcare infrastructure of the nation.
This facility will include a cardiology building and a tertiary care center, equipped with the latest technology to handle and treat all types of heart-related conditions and surgeries.
Securing funding was a major milestone for this initiative. Minister Pathirana successfully obtained approval for a $40 billion loan from the Asian Development Bank. With the funding in place, the foundation stone is scheduled to be laid in September this year, and construction will begin in January 2025.
This project guarantees a consistent and uninterrupted supply of stents and related medications for heart patients. As a result, patients will have timely access to essential medical supplies during their treatment and recovery. By securing these critical resources, the project aims to enhance patient outcomes, minimize treatment delays, and maintain the highest standards of cardiac care.
Upon its fruition, this monumental building will serve as a beacon of hope and healing, symbolizing the unwavering dedication to improving patient outcomes and fostering a healthier society.We anticipate a future marked by significant progress and positive outcomes in Sri Lanka’s cardiovascular treatment landscape within the foreseeable timeframe.
by Fr. Emmanuel Fernando, OMI
Jesuit Fr. Aloysius Pieris (affectionately called Fr. Aloy) celebrated his 90th birthday on April 9, 2024 and I, as the editor of our Oblate Journal, THE MISSIONARY OBLATE had gone to press by that time. Immediately I decided to publish an article, appreciating the untiring selfless services he continues to offer for inter-Faith dialogue, the renewal of the Catholic Church, his concern for the poor and the suffering Sri Lankan masses and to me, the present writer.
It was in 1988, when I was appointed Director of the Oblate Scholastics at Ampitiya by the then Oblate Provincial Fr. Anselm Silva, that I came to know Fr. Aloy more closely. Knowing well his expertise in matters spiritual, theological, Indological and pastoral, and with the collaborative spirit of my companion-formators, our Oblate Scholastics were sent to Tulana, the Research and Encounter Centre, Kelaniya, of which he is the Founder-Director, for ‘exposure-programmes’ on matters spiritual, biblical, theological and pastoral. Some of these dimensions according to my view and that of my companion-formators, were not available at the National Seminary, Ampitiya.
Ever since that time, our Oblate formators/ accompaniers at the Oblate Scholasticate, Ampitiya , have continued to send our Oblate Scholastics to Tulana Centre for deepening their insights and convictions regarding matters needed to serve the people in today’s context. Fr. Aloy also had tried very enthusiastically with the Oblate team headed by Frs. Oswald Firth and Clement Waidyasekara to begin a Theologate, directed by the Religious Congregations in Sri Lanka, for the contextual formation/ accompaniment of their members. It should very well be a desired goal of the Leaders / Provincials of the Religious Congregations.
Besides being a formator/accompanier at the Oblate Scholasticate, I was entrusted also with the task of editing and publishing our Oblate journal, ‘The Missionary Oblate’. To maintain the quality of the journal I continue to depend on Fr. Aloy for his thought-provoking and stimulating articles on Biblical Spirituality, Biblical Theology and Ecclesiology. I am very grateful to him for his generous assistance. Of late, his writings on renewal of the Church, initiated by Pope St. John XX111 and continued by Pope Francis through the Synodal path, published in our Oblate journal, enable our readers to focus their attention also on the needed renewal in the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka. Fr. Aloy appreciated very much the Synodal path adopted by the Jesuit Pope Francis for the renewal of the Church, rooted very much on prayerful discernment. In my Religious and presbyteral life, Fr.Aloy continues to be my spiritual animator / guide and ongoing formator / acccompanier.
Fr. Aloysius Pieris, BA Hons (Lond), LPh (SHC, India), STL (PFT, Naples), PhD (SLU/VC), ThD (Tilburg), D.Ltt (KU), has been one of the eminent Asian theologians well recognized internationally and one who has lectured and held visiting chairs in many universities both in the West and in the East. Many members of Religious Congregations from Asian countries have benefited from his lectures and guidance in the East Asian Pastoral Institute (EAPI) in Manila, Philippines. He had been a Theologian consulted by the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences for many years. During his professorship at the Gregorian University in Rome, he was called to be a member of a special group of advisers on other religions consulted by Pope Paul VI.
Fr. Aloy is the author of more than 30 books and well over 500 Research Papers. Some of his books and articles have been translated and published in several countries. Among those books, one can find the following: 1) The Genesis of an Asian Theology of Liberation (An Autobiographical Excursus on the Art of Theologising in Asia, 2) An Asian Theology of Liberation, 3) Providential Timeliness of Vatican 11 (a long-overdue halt to a scandalous millennium, 4) Give Vatican 11 a chance, 5) Leadership in the Church, 6) Relishing our faith in working for justice (Themes for study and discussion), 7) A Message meant mainly, not exclusively for Jesuits (Background information necessary for helping Francis renew the Church), 8) Lent in Lanka (Reflections and Resolutions, 9) Love meets wisdom (A Christian Experience of Buddhism, 10) Fire and Water 11) God’s Reign for God’s poor, 12) Our Unhiddden Agenda (How we Jesuits work, pray and form our men). He is also the Editor of two journals, Vagdevi, Journal of Religious Reflection and Dialogue, New Series.
Fr. Aloy has a BA in Pali and Sanskrit from the University of London and a Ph.D in Buddhist Philosophy from the University of Sri Lankan, Vidyodaya Campus. On Nov. 23, 2019, he was awarded the prestigious honorary Doctorate of Literature (D.Litt) by the Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, the Most Venerable Welamitiyawe Dharmakirthi Sri Kusala Dhamma Thera.
Fr. Aloy continues to be a promoter of Gospel values and virtues. Justice as a constitutive dimension of love and social concern for the downtrodden masses are very much noted in his life and work. He had very much appreciated the commitment of the late Fr. Joseph (Joe) Fernando, the National Director of the Social and Economic Centre (SEDEC) for the poor.
In Sri Lanka, a few religious Congregations – the Good Shepherd Sisters, the Christian Brothers, the Marist Brothers and the Oblates – have invited him to animate their members especially during their Provincial Congresses, Chapters and International Conferences. The mainline Christian Churches also have sought his advice and followed his seminars. I, for one, regret very much, that the Sri Lankan authorities of the Catholic Church –today’s Hierarchy—- have not sought Fr.
Aloy’s expertise for the renewal of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka and thus have not benefited from the immense store of wisdom and insight that he can offer to our local Church while the Sri Lankan bishops who governed the Catholic church in the immediate aftermath of the Second Vatican Council (Edmund Fernando OMI, Anthony de Saram, Leo Nanayakkara OSB, Frank Marcus Fernando, Paul Perera,) visited him and consulted him on many matters. Among the Tamil Bishops, Bishop Rayappu Joseph was keeping close contact with him and Bishop J. Deogupillai hosted him and his team visiting him after the horrible Black July massacre of Tamils.
Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement
By Gomi Senadhira
senadhiragomi@gmail.com
“You might tell fairy tales, but the progress of a country cannot be achieved through such narratives. A country cannot be developed by making false promises. The country moved backward because of the electoral promises made by political parties throughout time. We have witnessed that the ultimate result of this is the country becoming bankrupt. Unfortunately, many segments of the population have not come to realize this yet.” – President Ranil Wickremesinghe, 2024 Budget speech
Any Sri Lankan would agree with the above words of President Wickremesinghe on the false promises our politicians and officials make and the fairy tales they narrate which bankrupted this country. So, to understand this, let’s look at one such fairy tale with lots of false promises; Ranil Wickremesinghe’s greatest achievement in the area of international trade and investment promotion during the Yahapalana period, Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA).
It is appropriate and timely to do it now as Finance Minister Wickremesinghe has just presented to parliament a bill on the National Policy on Economic Transformation which includes the establishment of an Office for International Trade and the Sri Lanka Institute of Economics and International Trade.
Was SLSFTA a “Cleverly negotiated Free Trade Agreement” as stated by the (former) Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama during the Parliamentary Debate on the SLSFTA in July 2018, or a colossal blunder covered up with lies, false promises, and fairy tales? After SLSFTA was signed there were a number of fairy tales published on this agreement by the Ministry of Development Strategies and International, Institute of Policy Studies, and others.
However, for this article, I would like to limit my comments to the speech by Minister Samarawickrama during the Parliamentary Debate, and the two most important areas in the agreement which were covered up with lies, fairy tales, and false promises, namely: revenue loss for Sri Lanka and Investment from Singapore. On the other important area, “Waste products dumping” I do not want to comment here as I have written extensively on the issue.
1. The revenue loss
During the Parliamentary Debate in July 2018, Minister Samarawickrama stated “…. let me reiterate that this FTA with Singapore has been very cleverly negotiated by us…. The liberalisation programme under this FTA has been carefully designed to have the least impact on domestic industry and revenue collection. We have included all revenue sensitive items in the negative list of items which will not be subject to removal of tariff. Therefore, 97.8% revenue from Customs duty is protected. Our tariff liberalisation will take place over a period of 12-15 years! In fact, the revenue earned through tariffs on goods imported from Singapore last year was Rs. 35 billion.
The revenue loss for over the next 15 years due to the FTA is only Rs. 733 million– which when annualised, on average, is just Rs. 51 million. That is just 0.14% per year! So anyone who claims the Singapore FTA causes revenue loss to the Government cannot do basic arithmetic! Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I call on my fellow members of this House – don’t mislead the public with baseless criticism that is not grounded in facts. Don’t look at petty politics and use these issues for your own political survival.”
I was surprised to read the minister’s speech because an article published in January 2018 in “The Straits Times“, based on information released by the Singaporean Negotiators stated, “…. With the FTA, tariff savings for Singapore exports are estimated to hit $10 million annually“.
As the annual tariff savings (that is the revenue loss for Sri Lanka) calculated by the Singaporean Negotiators, Singaporean $ 10 million (Sri Lankan rupees 1,200 million in 2018) was way above the rupees’ 733 million revenue loss for 15 years estimated by the Sri Lankan negotiators, it was clear to any observer that one of the parties to the agreement had not done the basic arithmetic!
Six years later, according to a report published by “The Morning” newspaper, speaking at the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) on 7th May 2024, Mr Samarawickrama’s chief trade negotiator K.J. Weerasinghehad had admitted “…. that forecasted revenue loss for the Government of Sri Lanka through the Singapore FTA is Rs. 450 million in 2023 and Rs. 1.3 billion in 2024.”
If these numbers are correct, as tariff liberalisation under the SLSFTA has just started, we will pass Rs 2 billion very soon. Then, the question is how Sri Lanka’s trade negotiators made such a colossal blunder. Didn’t they do their basic arithmetic? If they didn’t know how to do basic arithmetic they should have at least done their basic readings. For example, the headline of the article published in The Straits Times in January 2018 was “Singapore, Sri Lanka sign FTA, annual savings of $10m expected”.
Anyway, as Sri Lanka’s chief negotiator reiterated at the COPF meeting that “…. since 99% of the tariffs in Singapore have zero rates of duty, Sri Lanka has agreed on 80% tariff liberalisation over a period of 15 years while expecting Singapore investments to address the imbalance in trade,” let’s turn towards investment.
Investment from Singapore
In July 2018, speaking during the Parliamentary Debate on the FTA this is what Minister Malik Samarawickrama stated on investment from Singapore, “Already, thanks to this FTA, in just the past two-and-a-half months since the agreement came into effect we have received a proposal from Singapore for investment amounting to $ 14.8 billion in an oil refinery for export of petroleum products. In addition, we have proposals for a steel manufacturing plant for exports ($ 1 billion investment), flour milling plant ($ 50 million), sugar refinery ($ 200 million). This adds up to more than $ 16.05 billion in the pipeline on these projects alone.
And all of these projects will create thousands of more jobs for our people. In principle approval has already been granted by the BOI and the investors are awaiting the release of land the environmental approvals to commence the project.
I request the Opposition and those with vested interests to change their narrow-minded thinking and join us to develop our country. We must always look at what is best for the whole community, not just the few who may oppose. We owe it to our people to courageously take decisions that will change their lives for the better.”
According to the media report I quoted earlier, speaking at the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) Chief Negotiator Weerasinghe has admitted that Sri Lanka was not happy with overall Singapore investments that have come in the past few years in return for the trade liberalisation under the Singapore-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement. He has added that between 2021 and 2023 the total investment from Singapore had been around $162 million!
What happened to those projects worth $16 billion negotiated, thanks to the SLSFTA, in just the two-and-a-half months after the agreement came into effect and approved by the BOI? I do not know about the steel manufacturing plant for exports ($ 1 billion investment), flour milling plant ($ 50 million) and sugar refinery ($ 200 million).
However, story of the multibillion-dollar investment in the Petroleum Refinery unfolded in a manner that would qualify it as the best fairy tale with false promises presented by our politicians and the officials, prior to 2019 elections.
Though many Sri Lankans got to know, through the media which repeatedly highlighted a plethora of issues surrounding the project and the questionable credentials of the Singaporean investor, the construction work on the Mirrijiwela Oil Refinery along with the cement factory began on the24th of March 2019 with a bang and Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his ministers along with the foreign and local dignitaries laid the foundation stones.
That was few months before the 2019 Presidential elections. Inaugurating the construction work Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the projects will create thousands of job opportunities in the area and surrounding districts.
The oil refinery, which was to be built over 200 acres of land, with the capacity to refine 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day, was to generate US$7 billion of exports and create 1,500 direct and 3,000 indirect jobs. The construction of the refinery was to be completed in 44 months. Four years later, in August 2023 the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to cancel the agreement with the investors of the refinery as the project has not been implemented! Can they explain to the country how much money was wasted to produce that fairy tale?
It is obvious that the President, ministers, and officials had made huge blunders and had deliberately misled the public and the parliament on the revenue loss and potential investment from SLSFTA with fairy tales and false promises.
As the president himself said, a country cannot be developed by making false promises or with fairy tales and these false promises and fairy tales had bankrupted the country. “Unfortunately, many segments of the population have not come to realize this yet”.
(The writer, a specialist and an activist on trade and development issues . )
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