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by Shirajiv Sirimane

The newly formed White Heaven Hotel Management Ltd has invested Rs. 100 million to put up a 21-roomed four star hotel in Thalapitiya, Panadura.

The management consists of four members Mr. and Mrs. John Reid who are British nationals and Mr. and Mrs. Sunil Samarasekara. The funding for the hotel has been made by the Reid family who granted a loan of Rs. 100 million.

The Sri Lankan partners have signed an agreement to pay the interest free loan in five years. The two foreigners would serve on the director board as the Chairman and Managing Director and would hold the controlling shares until such time the loan is settled.

The first stage of the construction, which includes the building of 15 rooms, a swimming pool, bar and two restaurants have been completed and the hotel is now open to the public.

According to the Director, White Heaven Hotel Management, Sunil Samarasekara the second stage would include the building of a Suite, a 7,000 square foot open roof garden, roof top restaurant, open kitchen and five additional rooms. "We will be restructuring the garden and the swimming pool as well," he said.

Mr. Samarasekara said that these proposed developments would be completed by early September for the season. "We have the financial resources to go in for these developments."

Former Executive Chief of Eden Hotel Beruwela, Mr. Samarasekera said that stage three would include setting up of a discotheque at the roof top garden, a bar, a gymnasium and cabanas near the beach. He said that they would bring down the latest sound and lighting equipment from UK to be installed at the proposed roof top discotheque.

He said that the management took much effort to design the hotel with many 'firsts' in the Sri Lankan hotel industry. He said one such feature will be the introduction of 'a complete business centre' in each room. "We will install a computer, fax machine, colour printer, internet, e-mail and IDD facilities in each room," he said. "We have also introduced clay toilet kits and all the wall hangings are carvings of wood."

Director (Sales), Waruni Samarasekara said that they have already marketed the hotel in the UK and Russia and have a very good response. "We have heavy bookings from the Russian clientele for the forthcoming tourism season," she said.

A former front office manager, she said that they have contacted the Sri Lanka Tourist Board with regard to their star classification and will be applying for four star category shortly. "As far as the Sri Lankan market is concerned, we will be targeting the upmarket business clientele," she said. Built on a two-acre land, it is the first four star hotel outside Colombo.

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