Phuket Renaissances - All day Dinning Restaurant

PMN update - Broadcast Tower Expansion

People's Media Network over the last 18 months has changed its revenue generating model from one that was initially based on the sale of advertising space on its airtime to a fixed income model that leases it network and support infrastructure to dealer content over its nine radio frequencies and two TV frequencies. 

The next phase of PMN growth will see the company establish broadcast towers in key locations around the country. These towers will be utilized by PMN for the broadcasting of it own radio frequencies in these areas and for the rental of excess tower space to other radio/tv and boradcast communication providers.


Also other potential sources on income could include certain value add service such as:

1. Providing a comprehensive management and maintenance service for TV/Radio  - i.e. backup transmitters, on site workshop and spares.
2. Maintenance of other towers sites - i.e. painting of towers, tower inspections, landscaping, painitng of cabins, servicing of generators and AC.  



PMN has obtained permission to setup broadcast towers in the following locations: 

View PMN Tower Sites in a larger map

The sites marked in blue PMN has obtained permission to construct tower, the sites marked in pink indicate tower sites that are pending approval.

The above 6 sites have traditionally been considered areas required for island wide coverage.

The 1st Site to be constructed will be Hunasgiriya.

Below are some pictures of the site preparation

The Entrance to the Site 

The path up to the Tower Site  

   

One Stop Unit SLTDA Approval Process 2011

Courtyard by Marriot, Weligama bay - Approval Process 2011 :

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has setup a One Stop Unit, for purpose of providing a centralized location for all approvals required for a hotel development project. The SLTDA interacts with representative of the different line agencies to facilitate the flow of information between these agencies.  below is a list of agencies:

Board of Investment (BOI)

Central Environmental Authority (CEA)

Coast Conservation Department (CCD)

Urban Development Authority  (UDA)

Forest Department (FD)

Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC)

Department of Archaelogy (DOA)

Department Irrigation (DOI)

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA)

Coconut Cultivation Board  (CCB)

Disaster Management Center(DMC)

Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (SLLRDC)

Department of Excise (DOE)

Key People: 

Morahela, Ms. Nimalka
Project Manager
No. 80. Galle Road. Colomho 03. Sri Lanka
Bus: +94 11 3135006
Bus Fax: +94 112426986
E-mail: nimalka@srilanka.travel

The Approval Process 

1. Link to pdf - SLTDA One Stop Unit Application Form

2. Link to pdf - Completed - One Stop Unit Application form

Note: The SLTDA –

1. Issue an application form which is submitted to the One Stop Unit at SLTDA. 
2. The SLTDA along with preventatives from the above agencies visited the proposed site. From this inspection an initial report is formulated based on their findings. 
3. Main agencies are the:
• Coast Conservation Department (CCD) – Establishing the vegetation line and the coastal setback for the area
• Urban Development Authority (UDA) – Total built up area and height of the building based on plot size.
• Central Environmental Authority (CEA) – if number of rooms is below 92 only an initial impact assessment is required (typical 1month) if not a full impact assessment is required  (typically 4-6months)   
4. After the initial inspection – a date is set for the Scooping Committee Meeting. At this meeting representatives from all the above agencies our present. The function of this meeting is to communicate the findings of the site inspection and highlight any issues based on the application submitted by us to SLTDA One Stop Unit. pls see scoping committee presentation 
5. All agencies make their recommendations, key comments were:
• Coast Conservation Department (CCD) – 35 meter set back as per the gazette notification XXXX
• Urban Development Authority (UDA) – Permission granted for ground + one as per the development guide for Weligama Palena, Matara.
• Central Environmental Authority (CEA) – recommended an initial impact assessment is required (typical 1month) based on 92 room hotel.

After the scooping committee meeting we are able to interact with the agencies individually via SLTDA One Stop Unit. In our case we required deviations from the development guidelines in the following areas: CCD Setback and UDA - Building Height 

Urban Development Authority - Approval Process

Urban Development Authority - Approval Process 

Pls see UDA Regulation - Building Made Easy 

The building height requested in our application was ground + 9, although the development guide for the area, recommended Ground + 1, these guideline had not been gazetted and in such an instance where they is no gazetted development guide for an area in Sri Lanka, the UDA colombo regulations apply. 

The scooping meeting outcome: indicated that only construction of ground + 1 was possible. Our application requested Ground + 9.

Next Step: 

1. Appeal letter sent to SLTDA requesting ground + 9, pls see Appeal Letter to SLTDA - Re: UDA (building hieghts)
2. SLTDA letter to UDA regarding our appeal pls see Appeal Letter from SLTDA to UDA 
3. Appeal to be heard at next UDA committee meeting
4. Presentation made at UDA Committee meeting - Pls see presentation to UDA planning Commitee
5. Minutes of the meeting sent to UDA, Matara
6. UDA Matara – Site inspection and report
7. Findings of the UDA Matara, presented at the subquent UDA Committee Meeting
8. Prelimary approval granted for ground + 8 Pls see preliminary planning approval from UDA

UDA, preliminary Approval subject to approval of following agencies:

Urban Development Authority  (UDA)

• Central Environmental Authority (CEA)
• Coast Conservation Department (CCD)
• Coconut Cultivation Board
• Disaster Management Center
• Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) 

The preliminary planning approval from the following agency was straight forward.

• Coconut Cultivation Board - pls see CCB approval 
• Disaster Management Center
• Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) - pls SLTDA Approval  

In order to get the approval of the CEA and CCD - as the land/project is a coastal property the CCD as per the scoping commitee meeitng asked us to do a IEE - Initial Environmental Impact assessment - further to this the CCD issued us a TOR - Terms of reference  to carry out the this study. 

We then appointment Mr. Hemantha Jayasundara + Team to carry out the study. 


Plan for building approval need to include:
1. Rain Water Harvesting - 3m3 per 31

2. Disable toilets - ground floor and first floor

3. For every 25 rooms 1 disable toilet 

4. Disable car parking to be shown on Plans 


Pls see UDA Gazatte Right of people with disabilities 

3D Concept Building

Material Section

Proposed Site for 3 Storey Warehouse at Peliyagoda

This site was originally where Warehouse No.2 was built, the warehouse was brought down with the intention of building a 120Meter broadcast tower for the transmission of our radio station 104.5FM. The plans  to build the tower were put on hold as the TRC ( Telecom Regulatory Authority of Sri Lanka) announced their plans to build a 350meter tower at a cost of USD100 Million - Lotus Tower - the purpose of this tower is to provide a common user facility for all radio and tv broadcast stations that serve Colombo. 

for more info: 

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1292087

http://www.dailynews.lk/2011/01/05/bus03.asp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peliyagoda_Tower

So as a result the tower idea was shelved and we decide to build a multi-storey warehouse. 

The pictures below shows the site before the start of construction, the site was approximately 40 perches, orginally planned for a single storey warehouse, then a 2 storey warehouse and finally decide on a 3 storey warehouse. Budget to build the warehouse was Rs.70Million - i.e. 35,000sqft of gross built up space at a cost of Rs.2000sqft 

With the intention of renting it at Rs.30 psf        

Tower Site - Location Hunasgiriya

View PMN Tower Sites in a larger map