The Sri Lankan president announced the lighting up of Colombo's Lotus Tower was to pay "tribute to" the Sri Lankan armed forces, as well as to healthcare workers, in the midst of a miltiary enforced curfew on the island as part of coronavirus counter-measures.
Sri Lanka's president Gotabaya Rajapaksa tweeted that the lighting was to honour their "selfless service is the lifeblood of our country today & it’s our duty to take care of them".
During the current pandemic, Sri Lankan armed forces and police have arrested 19,441 people for breaking a military-enforced curfew. Reports have also emerged of the security forces assaulting villagers.
The Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) stated on the matter;
“The tower would be lit up with a special theme in recognising the dedication and commitment that continues to inspire us and as well as an example to the world”.
The Lotus Tower is a state-owned project which has been beset with accusations of corruption as one of the Chinese construction companies, Aerospace Long March International Trade Co. Ltd (ALIT), had reportedly disappeared along with Rs. 2 billion - worth more than $11 million.
The Lotus flower has been as a symbol of Sinhala Buddhist nationalist identity. According to a government released concept video about the tower;
“In Sri Lanka, the Buddhist kingdom, with great desire of peace and development the lotus is considered as the flower which symbolises pure, clean and honest.”
Read more about the Lotus tower here: Sri Lanka’s tallest tower opens amidst Chinese corruption claims
