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By Shirajiv Sirimane

The management of Olenka Sunside Beach hotel has invested Rs. 50 million to build a three-star hotel in Marawila.

Sunside Beach hotel Marawila

The first stage of the 40-room property which includes four suites was opened recently. According to the Managing Director of Sunside Beach hotel, Paul Fernando, 20 rooms are now in operation. "We are hoping to complete the remaining 16 rooms and the four suites by the end of this year in time for the season."

Fernando said that they would invest a further Rs. 10 million for the second and final stage of the project. "When this is completed we will be classified as a three star hotel," he said.

Fernando said that they began building the hotel nearly two years ago. "However the situation in the country was not conducive at that time for a major investment. But with the peace process we knew that the tourism market had once again opened and we had no second thoughts about our investment."

The Managing Director said that they are targeting the Scandinavian and the Russian market which he said had not been fully exploited.

He said that they have already marketed their hotel in this sector and the European market. "We have got many bookings for the season from our web site, www.olenkahotel.lk and we are expecting an occupancy rate of over 60%." He said that one of the main ideas of the management would be to explore untapped markets. "This is why we are concentrating on the Russian and Eastern european market. We are re also anticipating the international airline crews as the hotel is only 45 minutes drive from the Colombo airport." The management is hoping to market the Wilpattu National Park which was opened to the public after two decades for the foreign market."

The Manager of the hotel Gihan Imbulana who has been in the travel trade for over 25 years said that they were hoping to introduce conference facilities and an internet cafe in a bid to attract local and the foreign business clientele." The Manager said that the hotel employs a 20-member staff and it had created indirect employment for over 25 families. "We do not believe in refrigerating food and make our purchases every morning from the fishermen and villages thereby creating indirect employment."

Imbulana also said that they had invested Rs. 2 million on the waste water plant since they do not want to create any environmental problems.

He said that all rooms are air-conditioned with all modern facilities such as IDD telephones, television and other requirements needed for the traveller.

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