President Mahinda Rajapakse launched the new tower at Kokavil, 320 kilometres (200 miles) from Colombo, two years after government troops won a long war against Tamil Tiger separatists.
A previous tower was captured by Tamil rebel fighters in 1990, cutting off all terrestrial broadcasts as well as radio communication for security forces fighting in the region.
The guerrillas broadcast their own Tamil programmes, though some locals also had access to other services through satellite dishes.
The new tower will broadcast both state-run and private channels, and also be used for mobile phones, Internet provision and military operations, the president`s office said.
Sri Lanka`s minority Tamil population says that it is still ignored and discriminated against by the government despite the end of fighting in 2009 when a military offensive killed the rebels` leaders. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
