The government will appoint a local board of directors to overlook and manage the operations of the Chinese-funded Lotus Tower project once it completes construction next year, State Minister of Investment Promotion Keheliya Rambukwella told Daily Mirror yesterday.

When the project was declared open by former President Maithripala Sirisena on September 16, he said the tower would be opened to the public a week later, but it continues to remain closed due to pending construction work.

Commenting on this, State Minister Rambukwella said Lotus Tower would fall under the purview of the Urban Development Authority (UDA) and would be declared as a special project with a separate board of directors once it was opened to the public.

"The government has been informed that the project will be completed in a few months after which we will declare it as a special project. While it will remain independent, we will appoint a board of directors," he said.

The construction company of Lotus Tower, China National Electronics Import and Export Corporation, has refused to hand over the project till next year because the tower had been opened by former President Maithripala Sirisena when the project was incomplete.

The tower, standing 356m in height, is the tallest freestanding tower in South Asia. It secured the 11th position among tallest towers in Asia and 19th worldwide. It comprises a telecommunication museum, a restaurant, supermarkets, food courts, conference halls with a seating capacity of 400 people, a 1000-seat auditorium, deluxe hotel rooms, ballrooms and an observation gallery. (Jamila Husain)