First three star hotel for B’caloa soon

Anuradha KODAGODA

Liyera Beach Hotel (Pvt) Ltd will invest Rs.100 million to build the first three star hotel in Batticaloa.

Construction work on the new BOI approved project will commence this month and will be completed by the end of the year.

The hotel will have 30 rooms, with a swimming pool, Ayurveda spa facilities, gymnasium, tennis court and many other facilities.

“With the dawn of peace there is a huge untapped potential in the Northern province for the hotel industry which was affected due to the war,” said the Managing Director, of Liyera Beach Hotel (Pvt) Ltd Kanagasurium Lakshman.

“At present there are no star category hotels in the area which includes special features such as swimming pools or gymnasiums.”

In addition, since Batticaloa is a totally remote area there is hardly any infrastructure available. “Therefore, most of the investors are reluctant to put their investments in these remote areas.

The main advantage we got to build this project is that there was less competition.

Hence we have taken the initiative. There is another hotel under Grade A, which has already started operations.

“I hope this is the right time to start business in this area,” he said.

Our strategic plans are to promote this project among local and foreign tourists. For example, I hope to introduce low budget packages for local tourists as well as for the corporate sector.

“There are a few international schools in Batticaloa which do not have a swimming pool facilities and we hope to provide swimming pool facilities for school children,” he added.