Social Construction of Colombo Lotus Tower: Intertwined Narratives of Religion, Economic Development, and Telecommunication

Chamil Rathnayake
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Chamil Rathnayake: University of Hawaii, Manoa, HI, USA

International Journal of Information Systems and Social Change (IJISSC), 2015, vol. 6, issue 3, 1-14

Abstract: This paper discusses, using the framework of Social Construction of Technology (SCOT) and some recent related work, the design, location, and the funding background of the Colombo Lotus Tower. Lotus Tower is a multifunctional communication tower currently being built in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Popular press articles, a discussion forum at Skyscrapercity.com, website of the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka, and content on several related websites were used to understand the public discourse related to the Lotus Tower. According to the public discourse, there are at least three intertwined narratives related to the design and location of the Lotus Tower: 1) Buddhist symbolism, 2) symbolizing post-war Sri Lanka's development, and 3) help develop Colombo as a tourist destination. These three narratives show how power asymmetries between main ethnic groups, aspirations of pre-existing social groups, and government's ability to draw resources shape the construction of the Lotus Tower. Accordingly, the case of Lotus Tower indicates how ethnic, religious, and political factors can make artifact design unique in different contexts.

Date: 2015
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