Six star hotel in Pelwatte
Shirajiv Sirimane
Chairman Pelwatte Sugar Ariyaseela
Wickremanayake
|
A water villa bungalow
|
Master Divers Ltd have embarked on a project to build the region’s
first six star hotel in Pelwatte, Embilipitiya.
Master Divers has tied with an American based company to build this
hotel close to the Pelwatte Sugar company owned by them. According to
Chairman Ariyaseela Wickramanayake they will be investing over Rs. 650
million for this project.
He said the hotel will be built on an eco-friendly concept and there
will be 40 luxury villa type accommodation.
In addition to all modern amenities to meet international standards,
there will be an 18-hole golf course for guests. Marketing of the hotel
will be done through their American counterparts.
The construction of the hotel has already commenced and it is
expected to be completed by the end of next year.
“Tourism is not doing great at the moment. However from my past
experience I know we must invest during bad times to reap better
benefits,” he said.
“We are hoping to market this hotel for around US$ 450 per night and
the management is confident that they could maintain an average 70 per
cent occupancy,” he said.
Electricity generated from sugarcane waste of the Pelwatte Sugar
Company will be used for the hotel thus bringing down the operating cost
by almost 30 per cent.
To date Sri Lanka has 13 five star hotels, Hilton, Trans Asia, Ceylon
Continental, Galadari, Taj Samudra, Cinnamon Grand in Colombo and
Heritance Ahungalle Kandalama in Dambulla, Blue Warter Wadduwa and
Mahaweli Reach and Earl’s Regency in Kandy and Eden Resort and Spa and
Taj Exotica in Beruwela.
Since consolidating its position in the maritime field, Master Divers
then diversified to agriculture through Pelwatte Sugar and later to
dairy.
Producing ethanol and electricity from sugarcane waste is another
project launched by entrepreneur Wickremanayake.
Apart from the 25 megawatt electricity that could be produced from a
sugarcane factory sugarcane leaves can be used to produce animal feed. |