CATIC bids US$ 13.5m for Galle Face acre

Indunil HEWAGE

China based leisure group Catic hotels is to set up a luxury hotel in Galle Face area and has sought government approval to purchase a significant amount of land in the above area.

Catic hotels group has also expressed willingness to purchase an acre of land in the Galle Face area at US $ 13.5 million.

Addressing the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management Graduation - Economic Development Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said post war local tourism has managed to attract high profile global hotel brands to set up hotels here.

Canada based Four Seasons hotel representatives have paid a visit to the Kalpitiya area on Wednesday to look into possibilities of expanding their presence in Sri Lanka. In addition, the government has taken a firm decision to commercialize key places in the Colombo city and will be regularizing the Hikkaduwa and Unawatuna tourist areas implementing new strategies and regulations. The government will also formulate new rules and regulations in the next six months to further regularize the local tourism industry to achieve sustainable development.

Commenting on the government’s decision to allow preferred investors to set up eco-friendly hotels in the buffer zones, the minister said the intention is to allow tourists to visit important areas in eco-sites and will be formulating new rules in coming months pertaining to wildlife areas, without violating Wildlife Development rules and regulations.