Construction of Sri Lanka's biggest communication tower nears completion

Sri Lanka Telecommunication Regulatory Commission announces that construction of the island's biggest communication tower at Kokavil in the Northern Province is nearing completion and expects it to be operational soon.

The transmitting devices and other equipment are now being installed and the tower should be ready for all TV and radio broadcasts before the end of this year, an official said.

Kokavil was a center of radio transmission for a long time but the area was under the control of Tamil Tiger rebels for many years before the area was liberated by the Sri Lankan Army last year.

The LTTE rebels captured the original tower and used to broadcast their clandestine transmissions before blowing it up when Sri Lankan troops closed in last year.

The Government took immediate action to repair the tower as soon as the soldiers consolidated their power in the area.

The cost for the 172-meter tall communication tower is Rs. 250 million, says the Chairman of the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Anusha Pelpita.

The tower which is Sri Lanka's first ever multi-channel broadcasting tower, will be allocated for the providers of services of high speed internet, radio, television, and telephone.