Siddhalepa Health Centre opens in Frankfurt

by Shirajiv Sirimane

Siddhalepa Ayurvedic Health Centre would open their first international hotel, in Frankfurt Germany end of the year.

There is a growing demand for Ayurveda products in Europe and especially in Germany and this is why the management decided to invest in Germany said the Director of Siddhalepa, Asoka Hettigoda. Investment would be made from the funds within the company and they would not seek a foreign investor for the project.

Sri Lanka qualified Ayurveda doctors and staff would be stationed in Germany for this project and all healthcare products manufactured by the group would be used. "We would also have a sales outlet for our products," he said.

The Frankfurt Ayurvedic Health Centre would have three treatment rooms and offer all other facilities. "The group is also looking at more investment opportunities in Europe," he said.

He said that they would also promote Ayurvedha products at the Japan World Expo next month. "Japan too is a very lucrative market," he said.

According to the Resident Manager of Siddhalepa Ayurvedic Health Resort Wdduwa, Rohan Colomboge they have refurbished 20 additional rooms. He said that they were not badly affected for the tsunami and they have heavy bookings for next Winter.

The resort provides Ayurvedic Therapies - holistic health care system - a pre-requisite for human well-being - Ayurvedic Massages, Ayurvedic Steam Baths, Sauna, Ayurvedic Medication, Ayurvedic Oil treatment which form part of a well designed rejuvenation and detoxification program administered by a team of eminent Scholars and Specialists. He said that though their hotel is a purposely-built Ayurveda hotel they have two different menus. "Our aim is to cater to everybody," he said.

The hotel with 26 superior, 12 deluxe, six king deluxe, and six suites was open in 1999. It was designed by the founder of the group Victor Hettigoda who invested Rs. 215 million for the project. Building material such as 'fermented medical clay, rock and special bricks' and based on traditional Sri Lankan Architecture.

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'Elephant Corridor' to increase rates again

Elephant Corridor having increased its introductory rates in its past two years of operation will further increase its rates from US$275.00 to US$ 1250.00.

"Our policy of not discounting has paid off and we will look towards remaining not just the most expensive but the most exclusive hotel in the country", a official of the Hotel said. Total guest satisfaction is one of our primary goals and 95% of our guests record a stay, which exceeded their expectations.

The 'one of a kind' lifestyle hotel in 200 acres of private wilderness within thousands upon thousands of acres of forest and wildlife reserves, moves forward and in keeping with its policy of total guest satisfaction has started a programme of Total Guest Comfort and Delight (TGCD) by All Staff Involved (ASI), which has been tailor-made for this now internationally famous very upmarket hotel.

Over 95% of current guests record "exceeded expectation" stay at the hotel commanding rates between US$275 - US $250. The policy of no discounting will continue.

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Netherlanders to help the tourist village of Unawatuna

by M. Farook Lantra

A team of skilled personnel from Rotterdam Holland had voluntarily come forward to render their services to the tsunami affected area to the tourist village at Unawatuna, Galle. This team of volunteers is led by Rob Verwater (Engineer).

This programme is initiated by R. P. Sarath, Gen. Secretary, Olympic Sports Club, Galle.

According to Arjan Leenhouts, Travel Editor, 'Algemeen DaGblad' newspaper, Rotterdam, all ten personnel had taken leave and their air tickets were sponsored by 'Martinair' Airlines Ltd, Netherlands.

Arjan further states their main objective is to recover the economy of the tourism which was hit by the tsunami in Unawatuna, to build a new guest house at Danwella Road, Unawatuna, two guest houses, in replacement of the guest house 'Marie House' and rebuiling of small houses outside the 100 metre zone at a cost of Euro 80,000.

This amount is collected from the 300,000 readers of the newspaper 'Algemeen Dagblad', Rotterdam, to build the Gemunu playground by the name 'Right to Play Foundation', founded by Johann Olov Koss, Norwegian Olympic Champion Ice Skating, and carry out a project by Van den Herik Company which wants to restore the reef within the Unawatuna bay and bring new sand to the beach. This project costs one million Euros.

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Apartment hotel concept to be introduced

Sri Lanka is to introduce the Apartment Hotel Concept to attract more Indian Tourists and expatriate Sri Lankans, there are three million expatriate Sri Lankans globally and a significant number of them have in recent times started returning to Sri Lanka for extended stays.

A tourist promotion drive is to be initiated to attract more Indian tourists and prominent Indian businessmen to Sri Lanka. The demand for Sri Lanka as a tourist as well as business destination is growing leaps and bounds in India. Managing Director Global Lanka Holdings LTD, Phelix Selvadurai, the Sri Lankan born leading UK based entrepreneur said.

He added that he would initiate action to promote Sri Lanka's apartment hotel concept in China, the Middle East, Singapore, Malaysia and The Maldives. He disclosed that Sri Lanka is fast Gaining popularity as ayurvedic medical health destination, particularly in The Maldives and this was yet another lucrative market that could be tapped. (Lankapuvath)