Galway Miridiya Lodge

The tropical hideaway closer to nature...

Beverley JANSZ

Galway Miridiya Lodge is a beautifully landscaped hotel overlooking the picturesque Nuwara Wewa Tank, located just a few minutes away from the World Heritage site in the ancient capital of Sri Lanka - Anuradhapura.

Galway Miridiya offers 39 spacious air conditioned rooms well equipped with hot/cold water, bath rooms/bath tubs, telephone with IDD facilities, colour TV, Mini bar, safety deposit lockers, 24-hour room service, doctor on call, same day laundry service.

The main restaurant located by the side of the beautiful pool, with a panoramic view of the Nuwara Wewa tank, serves the very best in Western, Eastern and exotic typical Sri Lankan dishes prepared by veteran Executive Chef Ajith Fernando and his kitchen brigade. Special theme nights, BBQ nights and buffets are also on offer.

The restaurant has a well stocked wine cellar and a variety hotel’s own cocktail to make guests dazzling.

The ‘Spanish Lounge’ at the hotel is an ideal palace to have weddings, seminars and workshops where you can comfortably accommodate 200 guests. The hotels arranges the poruwa, Kandyan dancers and decorations at a nominal charge, says Executive Resident Manager, Harintha Jaywardena.

The hotel also arranges visits to the ancient city of Anuradhapura, where guests can see the history of Sri Lanka and the ruins from the ancient days. Excursions to neighbouring sites such as Mihintale, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya and Dambulla are also arranged by the hotel.

Galway Miridiya is ideal for bird watching. A dip in the beautiful and large swimming pool will certainly refresh you.

An evening walk through the banks of the breathtaking ‘Nuwara Wewa’ Tank is a must while you are at Galway Miridiya Lodge.

The hotel arranges wild life safaris to Wilpattu National Park where you can spot wild animals such as leopards, elephants, deer, wild boar and birds.

Day trips to Nilaweli Beach, exploring Sri Lanka’s renowned Eastern Coastline where you can have a refreshing seabath, snorkelling, a trip to the pigeon island etc. are also on the cards.

Galway Miridiya has become extremely popular among Buddhist groups from Thailand, China and Japan who visit the ‘Atamasthana (eight sacred places of worship) in Anuradhapura, said Group General Manager Hotels Lalith Rajapakse.

In recent times, 75 per cent of the occupancy has been Sri Lankans. Most of the Sri Lankans who visit the ‘Atamasthana’ patronise Galway Miridiya Lodge, Rajapakse said.

Galway Miridiya Lodge is owned and managed by Galway Hotel Management, Rajagiriya.

Its Chairman is Dayananda Gunatilleke.

Pizzeria at Ceylon Continental

The Pizzeria at the Ceylon Continental Hotel Colombo, one of Colombo’s enduring haunts, is hosting yet another delicious Pizza Promotion from July 13-18.

Pizzeria is located at the Tharanga Terrace near the Pool side with a lovely view of the placid Indian Ocean and the hotel’s beautiful swimming pool. The Pizza Promotion will be on from 11 a.m. p.m. during the promotion.

Pizza fans could taste an array of mouth-watering Pizzas like “Con Gamber” with shrimps, Cheese, Tomato and Herbs, “Pizza Devilled” with spicy prawns tossed with Tomato, Capsicum, Onions, Ginger and lemongrass, “Tandoori Chicken Pizza” with chicken cubes marinated in Indian spices and Onion & Tomato and “Vegetariano” with cheese, tomato, herbs and vegetables. Also appetizers like chef’s special salad bowl, Insalata Pizzeria and Soups are also on the cards.

Its a treat for the entire family at the Pizza Promotion at the Ceylon Continental says the hotel’s Public Relations Executive, Onitha Gurugalla.

The Blue Water 10th Anniversery

The 10th anniversary of the Blue Water Hotel, Wadduwa was celebrated on a grand scale last Friday at a glittering ceremony.

A large crowd including VIPs, distinguished guests and leading personalities in Sri Lanka’s hospitality industry were present. Guests were entertained by “Wildline” and “Phase III”, while the hotel treated guests to cocktails and a sumptions dinner.

Opened in 1997, the Blue Water is dedicated to serve their guests with nothing but the best in service, food and entertainment, General Manager, Roshan Perera said. The hotel is situated in the coastal town of Wadduwa along its pristine beaches 90 minutes away from Colombo.

Livewires in Hospitality Industry:

Hiran Serasinghe

Sri Lanka’s first 5-star General Manager

After completing his studies at Isipathana Maha Vidyalaya in 1970, Hiran joined the Ceylon Tobacco Company in Kandy as a Factory Production Assistant.

In 1973, he joined Lanka Oberoi (now Cinnamon Grand) as a Management Trainee, and was subsequently sent to the Oberoi Management School in New Delhi for a two-year course in hotel management.

Hiran returned from New Delhi for the opening of the Lanka Oberoi in 1975 and served Oberoi until 1983 in different management levels. He left Oberoi in 1983 as Food and Beverage Manager.

In 1983, Hiran was offered the post of General Manager, pegasus reef Hotel, Wattala, where he served until 1985. Then he came back to Ramada Renaissance (now Trans Asia) as Executive Assistant Manager. At that time Ramada was an American owned International Hotel chain.

In 1987 he was promoted to Resident Manager. While at Ramada, Hiran was sent to the UK and Germany for further training as understudy to General Managers of those properties.

In 1989, Hiran reached the zenith of his hotel career when he was appointed General Manager, Ramada Renaissance Hotel.

A unique feature here is that at that time, Hiran was the first Sri Lankan to be appointed to the prestigious post of General Manager of a 5-star Internationally managed hotel. Hiran left Ramada in 1994 and was involved in consultancy services for the hotel and restaurant trade including three years at Millennium Park (now Excel World).

From 2004, Hiran is the General Manager of Fingara Town and Country Club, owned by Finance and Guarantee Group of Ceylinco Consolidated.

This is Sri Lanka’s most exclusive private members club. Since I met Hiran at the Pegasus Reef Hotel, Hendala in 1983, I always admired Hiran’s ‘down to earth’ qualities, treating his sub-ordinates not as his employees but ‘friends’.

Hiran climbed the ladder of success not in an elevator, but step by step to be Sri Lanka’s first general manager of a 5-star internationally managed hotel in Sri Lanka.

Livewires in Hospitality Industry:

Adrian Gomez

Youngest executive in Meridien chain Asia

Adrian began his hotel career in 1983 at the Ceylon Inter-Continental Hotel as a humble steward. After a short stint at the Inter-Continental, Adrian joined Galadari Meridien in 1983 as a Senior Captain, Coffee Shop and French Restaurant. Adrian was the youngest Executive in the Meridien chain in Asia, 1984-1990.

Adrian left for Oman in 1990 to join the Accor French chain of hotels, Novetel Muscat, Oman as a room service and Restaurant Manager. He also served Accor Group Hotel Mercure Al Falaj Muscat Oman as Restaurant and Bar Manager, 1993-1996.

From Oman, Adrian left for Australia and joined Macalister Lodge, Melbourne as Manager, Pizza Hut and Consultant for Macalister Lodge, Melbourne.

He returned to Sri Lanka in 2002 and managed a leading Chinese Restaurant in Colombo.

At present, Adrian is the Sales Manager, Food and Beverage, Fingara Town and Country Club.

Adrian has successfully completed a Hotel Management course in Sydney, Australia with Harcourts International Correspondence School.

At Fingara, always with a smile Adrian, treats his guests and employees as ‘family members’. “That is the success of my hotel career” says Adrian.

Beverley Jansz