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| Saturday, 26 February 2005 |
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Investors express confidence in Lanka by Shirajiv Sirimane Despite the devastation of the tsunami, both local and foreign innovators are confident of investing in multi-million dollar tourism development projects in Sri Lanka, said Tourist Board Chairman Udaya Nanayakkara. He said the Government has given the green light to convert the Kalpitiya lagoon and the island to an upmarket tourist destination and all investors who had had conformed to invest in Kalpitiya have not backed out. "In fact we have found new investors from the Maldives and other countries," Nanayakkara said. Cabinet approval has been granted to get this project off the ground. Initially 2,000 acres would be developed and later another 2,000 would be added and surveys would be conducted to block out suitable land by next week. "We would be calling for international tenders to select architects to draw a master plan for the project and construction would commence from early next year," he said. One of the leading tour operators in the world, LTU and several other international hotelliers have already visited the proposed site and are happy with the property. "We have selected several islands in the area for this project and the government would lease out land for the would be investors on a 33 year lease," he said. Kalpitiya would be turned in to an up market destination and the hotels and chalets that would be built would be four star and five star. "There would be many firsts in the Kalpitiya tourism zone which would include the construction of an 18 hole golf course, theme parks, floating restaurants and an under water amusement park," he said. The Tourist Board also had discussions with Wilpattu National Park authorities, which would be upgraded to meet the present day demands. "Since the Wilpattu National Park and the Bandaranaike International Airport are in close proximity to Kalpitiya, the destination would have an added advantage," he said. Nanayakkara also said cable cars and air taxies too would be introduced to the project. "The Dutch had first landed in Kalpitiya and we are also hoping to obtain the Netherlands assistance for the project," he said. The SLTB is also closely working with NARA and Coastal Conservation Board so that there would be no negative environmental impact. |
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