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by Tharika Goonathilake

A team of investors from Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates has expressed interest in Sri Lanka's massive tourism development plan encompassing Bentota's Dedduwa Lake and its environs.

"They visited Sri Lanka last week and expressed an interest in plans to develop a golf course and a theme Park on the Disneyland concept," Sri Lanka Tourist Board Chairman Paddy Withana told the Daily News. According to him, the project implemented in collaboration with the Tourism Ministry, Sri Lanka Tourist Board and Ministry of Southern Development targets to raise investments of over Rs. 1 billion through this proposed enterprise, while developing 4,000 acres of land which will be designated as a special tourist zone in Dedduwa.

Dedduwa Lake is located about 42 miles to the south of Colombo and at the northern border of the Southern Province, east of the Bentota tourist resort area.

"Around 1,200 acres is available for immediate investment on a 30 year lease with provision to extend it to 50 years for long-term investment recoverable in 30 years," the Chairman said.

The mega development initiative, the second stage of the Government's Bentota Holiday Resort development drive, envisages developing a Rs 600 million, 200 acre race course cum training centre for jockeys, a 380 acre golf course - the largest in the country,-an observatory tower with a restaurant and other facilities, eco-tourism and aquasports, lake based fishing activities and an amusement park on the Disneyland concept.

A floating restaurant is also planned since the Lake covers around 500 acres with a number of small islands.

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