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| Friday, 5 November 2004 |
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US $ one billion project to be completed in two years: South Asia's first six star hotel in Mirissa by Shirajiv Sirimane
South Asia's first six star hotel would be built in Mirissa, Sri Lanka. The project would be undertaken by Connissance Holdings limited and would be mainly funded by well-known investor Dhammika Perera who is a major shareholder of the company. US $ 1 billion would be invested on the proposed 62 - room six star hotel. The company has already purchased a 12-acre land for this purpose and construction work would commence next year. The project is scheduled to be completed in two years. According to Director Finance, Nimal Perera the management would also embark on two other boutique type luxury hotel projects next year. "We are hoping to invest US $ 10 million on both the projects. The first project, 'Woods' will be in Nuwara Eliya and the second would be at Wadduwa," he said. In addition the management will also invest a further Rs. 500 million on an upmarket hotel adjoining their property La Kandyan in Kandy," he said. Deputy Chairman Dhammika Perera said that tourism is booming in Sri Lanka and there would a big demand for quality rooms in the future. "Sri Lanka is turning out to be a luxury destination and it would be very easy to sell luxury rooms. Peace is the key for this," he said. He said that they have received many inquiries from travel agents for upmarket rooms and this is why they were confident to invest in the hotel industry,". The management is also hoping to invite international operators to manage some of these new properties. Chairman of the group Chandra Wickramasinghe said that they would invest Rs. 12 million to build six luxury suites adjoining their property Culture Club in Dambulla. "We will have a swimming pool for each suite," he said. There is a big demand for upmarket properties in the cultural triangle and this encouraged them for this investment. "The suites would be ready for the next winter," he said. He said that the Rs. 700 million four star 'Fortress Hotel' would be reopened next winter. "This would be the most expensive hotel in Sri Lanka charging the highest room rates starting from US $ 500. It would also have the largest room space in a hotel in Sri Lanka," he said. The group signed a MoU with Per Aquum Resorts and Spa in the Maldives to manage this hotel on a profit sharing basis and they are expecting a five-year pay back. Fortress Resorts is a two storey building modelled on Dutch architecture and will have 48 luxury suites and two presidential suites. This luxury boutique style hotel is situated in Koggala and will span 3.3 acres of land with 600 feet of beach frontage. It will be operational from May 2005. Located in the vicinity of the Koggala Airport, it will cater to top end tourists who visit Sri Lanka. In close proximity are the Martin Wickremasinghe Museum and the Folk Art Centre as well National Parks and many heritage sites. The Fortress Resorts was formally known as Hotel Club Horizon which was demolished and rebuilt. ************* Madu Ganga to be developed as a Eco-Tourism destination by Anjana Gamage
In another move to boost the local tourism sector in the country, a unique eco-tourism development plan has been mooted for the year 2005, Sri Lanka Tourist Board (SLTB) sources told the "Daily News-Business travel". According to the sources, "Madu Ganga" in Balapitiya, Southern province, a highly attracted tourist area will be the first zone to carry out the sustainable eco-tourism plan for year 2005. "Madu Ganga which consists of 20 islets, of a total land area of 200 acres is a main tourist attraction. This 'Eco hotspot' consists of Mangroves which is the home to a plethora of fauna and flora. Therefore the SLTB will develop this area with the "Madu Ganga Eco-tourism Development plan", SLTB sources said. However, the SLTB has realised with its surveys that there is a big demand from foreigners for unique places in the country where it can have adventure sports, eco-tourism and heritage tourism which assist to boost the local tourism sector. Therefore the SLTB has planned to acquire a total land area of 7,487 acres covering several areas for tourism development in the country. In terms of the powers vested in under the Tourist Board Act. No. 14 of 1968 the SLTB has decided to obtain land in the areas of Sigiriya- (80 acres), Kohilawagura (200 acres) Victoria (500 acres), Arugam Bay- (500 acres), Kalpitiya (5000 acres), Dedduwa (1200 acres) and 7 acres in Colombo (Colombo Commercial building land) for the purpose of tourism development. Meanwhile apart from these development projects, rehabilitation of the Wilpattu National Park will also be launched next year by the SLTB. ************* Lanka showcased on top Australian TV show Australia's top-rating national television travel show, The Great Outdoors, is showcasing Sri Lanka's unique tourism attractions in three separate programmes. The travel show, which is broadcast in the prime-time 7.30 p.m. slot every Monday evening, attracts a weekly viewing audience of 1.5 million right across Australia. At the invitation of the Sri Lanka Tourist Board, a four-man crew from The Great Outdoors programme spent ten days travelling around the country in late August, filming the major tourist attractions. The first segment of the programme broadcast on October 25 explored the Cultural Triangle - Sigiriya and Dambulla. This was followed by a segment on Minneriya National Park, the highlight of which was the sighting of a herd of elephants on the move. The second programme in The Great Outdoors series, to be broadcast early next year, will feature shopping in Kandy and Colombo, while the third programme will focus on Nuwara Eliya - the hill-country lifestyle, tea estates and golfing. The programme is also publicised on The Great Outdoors' popular website - www.thegreatoutdoors.com.au which will retain information on the team's trip to Sri Lanka for the next 12 months. "Sri Lanka is fast becoming the destination of choice for Australians holidaying in the Asia region," said Sri Lanka Tourist Board Chairman, Udaya Nanayakkara. |
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