JKH, Sanken to build Rs 2.9b city hotel

25 storeyed 250 room venture:

Sanken Lanka Ltd and John Keells Holdings in a joint venture are to build a 25 storeyed 250 room business hotel in the heart of Colombo. The total investment will be Rs 2.9 billion.

Sanken Lanka ,a leading construction company will be the major shareholder of this project, a Colombo Stock Exchange filing said yesterday.

Keells Hotel Managements will be the hotel operator once the project is completed. The hotel will include state-of-the-art architecture and will have a roof top swimming pool among many other luxuries.

The project is expected to be completed in 33 months. JKH Deputy Chairman Ajit Gunewardene said they believe Colombo requires an efficient modern business hotel.

"Our goal in the medium term would be to develop capacity of around 1000 rooms in this sector. The Colombo city currently has 500 to 600 three star rooms," he said.