The Star in 'Little England':

Hotel Silver Falls

Lester JANSZ

NUWARA ELIYA: In the scenic surroundings of mountain terrain and wild nature accentuated by the beautiful 'Blackpool' waterfall, Hotel Silver Falls cannot shine more silver on the 60-acre stretch of lush tea land that sits on in 'Little England.'

Situated at Windy Corner, Blackpool, Nuwara Eliya, Hotel Silver Falls is enhanced by the most friendly service of staff, headed by its youthful Director/General Manager Niluka Wickrematilleke.

The splendour of the Blackpool waterfall by the valleys and meadows enhances the hotel's natural beauty.

At 6200 feet above sea level with temperatures ranging from 120C to 220C, the hotel offers 27 deluxe rooms with star class facilities, which includes Satellite TV, telephones with IDD facilities, hot/cold water, piped music, heaters and room service.

Hotel Silver Falls is a marvellous piece of architecture created by Chairman/Managing Director Shantha Wickrematilleke, a pioneer gem exporter turned hotelier.

Stonehenge

The hotel's gleaming teak furnished bar has been named after the megalithic English ruin Stonehenge in Salisbury Plain, Amesbury.

The restaurant which could accommodate over 150 guests offer the best in cuisine - Western, Eastern, Chinese and spicy Sri Lankan specialities. The menu at the hotel is made up from fresh vegetables grown in the compound of the hotel.

A special feature at 'Stonehenge' is that when serving champagne it is accompanied by a strawberry grown in the compound of the hotel. Sunday Brunch specially for planters and their families is also popular.

While sipping beer at the 'beer garden' with a BBQ corner, guests get a panoramic view of the beautiful mountains that surround the hotel.

Within a short period of its opening, Hotel Silver Falls has become a honeymooners paradise and a 'talk of the town'. Honeymoon couples are offered a complimentary room every five years to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Special discounted packages are offered for Sri Lankans and expatriates.

Hotel Silver Falls is owned and managed by W. J. Wickrematilleke, a pioneer in the Sri Lankan gem and jewellery export industry. Its Directors are Shantha Wickrematilleke (Chairman/Managing Director), Poornima Wickrematilleke (Director), Niluka Wickrematilleke (Director/General Manager) and Ranmali Amarasena (Director).

Palm Beach goes for hospitality training

Anjana GAMAGE

COLOMBO: Palm Beach Hotel Mount Lavinia will focus on the academic activities in the near future, according to the General Manager Ranjith Balasuriya, who has over 20 years experience in the hospitality trade.

The first series of the eight-month certificate course in Hospitality Management with a curriculum of Reception, Food and Beverage, House Keeping and Professional Cookery is scheduled to start from 1st of April.

Five scholarships worth Rs. 250,000 will be granted to selected youth hoteliers who had been victimised by the tsunami in 2004.

The batch top and the second will be offered employment in the Palm Beach chain of hotels as well.

Don Jayasuriya, who has immense experience in the hospitality industry is the Chairman of the Palm Beach Hotel with two guest houses in Kandy and Nuwara Eliya.

His main aim is to create a hotel chain throughout the country.

His other intention is to develop the Hospitality Management course into a university level course and to establish a fully-fledged, well-equipped hotel school within the premises shortly.

"Palm Beach is one of the oldest hotels in Sri Lanka and the first Hotel School was also initiated here.

After Don Jayasuriya taking over the property in 2000, it was refurbished with a cost of Rs. 250 million to match a Three Star deluxe hotel.

At present, the hotel consist 43 rooms with one suite and employs a staff of 80 with 10 executives", Balasuriya said. According to him, the hotel has four banquet halls namely "Imperial", "Regal", "Regent" and "Summer Time", where each hall can cater up to 1500 guests at once.

Every hall consists of a mini kitchen and a coffee shop.

There is a special roof top beer garden named "Don YJ" and a well-equipped discotheque named "Ecstasy".

Apart from these facilities, the hotel also has a separate conference room, which can accommodate about 40 people at once along with a car park and a kiddies pool as well.

"The hotel has a good demand for its 'Sunday Buffet' and for weddings mainly due to the scrumptious food prepared by the chief chef Kapila Jayanetti.

Kapila apart from preparing delicious food is giving a valuable contribution to the hotel by providing information and material to conduct the Hotel Management course at a success, commenting Kapila's service, Balasuriya said.

Meanwhile the Palm Beach hotel management is expected to launch a unique event in the future at the Don's Club situated on the beach, forming a 'beach carnival' including beach rugby, beach volleyball and many other recreational activities.

Ladies Hour at Cheers!

COLOMBO: Unwind, chill, let your hair down...whatever your vocabulary, Colombo's most happening pub- Cheers at Cinnamon Grand, offers an exclusive 'Ladies Hour' on March 30.

The time zone is actually 7.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m., so you do have plenty of time to chill out and bond with the girls!

The event, will be a regular occurrence every last Thursday of each month.

'Ladies Hour' will offer beverages at half price, a special snack menu and plenty of fun and excitement.

There will also be special Margaritas, with every group of ten and above entitled to a free jug and plenty of cocktails and drinks at half the price!

That's not all, some of the pub's most favourite finger food too will be on offer at a special rate on the menu, should you wish to munch, while you grab a piece of the conversation!

DJ music and a fashion spot are some of the other highlights for the evening, including a chance to check out your 'brain power' and 'girl power' by participating in some of the competitions lined up for the fun packed two hours.

There are plenty of other gifts and surprises... so ladies, keep the date free, and be spoilt the way you deserve to be, only at Cheers!