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Villa Ocean View, the Ceyko Group resort hotel known as "the heart of the south" at the Greater Colombo's southern doorstep completed a Rs 100 million refurbishment program to ride the wave of resurgence in tourism.

The Wadduwa hotel said it has quadrupled the capacity of its banquet hall from 150 to 600 guests, refurbished its 67-room superior wing, re-laid the deck of its swimming pools complex, rebuilt its pool bar and kitchen, expanded its main kitchens, enlarged and refurbished its lobby, refurnished and redecorated its air-conditioned bar and built an Internet cafe for resident guests.

"We are now fully geared to cater to the needs of a wide spectrum of guests, from discerning up-market tourists, to all-inclusive groups, foreign and local honeymooners and local families, as well as to service the needs of the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) sector," the hotel's Project Director, I. Gunaratne said.

She said the investment in upgrading the 20-year-old hotel's facilities and giving it a new look, which followed its acquisition by the Ceyko Group an year ago, would make Villa Ocean View one of the most attractive properties on Sri Lanka's south western coast at a time when there are encouraging signs that tourism is on the rebound.

One of the significant changes to the hotel's infrastructure was the redesigning and expansion of its banquet/conference facilities at a cost of Rs 40 million. The hotel now boasts of three multi-media equipped banquet halls that can be converted into a single area to accommodate up to 600 people.

"This hotel has always been a popular venue for local and foreign weddings," Gunaratne said. "We can now host much larger events and service high demand corporate sector requirements," she said.

One of the few hotels that can offer separate swimming pools for resident guests and day visitors, the Villa Ocean View's renovated pools complex comprising the two main pools, kiddies pool and four-unit Jacuzzi complex is also expected to be a major attraction to visitors, she said.

Another feature of the hotel which is particularly popular among family visitors is its cabana section comprising 84 luxurious rooms in private villas and its large extent of manicured lawns. This provides a choice to guests, a hotel wing comprising 61 well appointed luxury rooms and six elegant suites and a complex of serviced independent villas.

Twice the recipient of the 'Gold Choice' award of top UK tour operator First Choice Holidays Ltd., the Villa Ocean View hotel occupies 15 acres of what was once a coconut estate 35 kilometers from Colombo.

This proximity to the city is a distinct advantage because the hotel can offer guests the setting and ambience associated with locations further south at the end of a 40-minute drive, said V. Gunaratne, the Managing Director and Deputy Chairman of Ceylon Shipping Lines Ltd., the managing agents of Villa Ocean View.

The hotel also operates a comprehensive Ayurvedic health centre staffed by qualified personnel.

"Our focus is to provide the tourist and the businessman an ideal location for work and pleasure, rest and recuperation," he said.

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