Miridiya Lodge in Rs 50 m expansion drive

Ramani Kangaraarachchi in Anuradhapura

The tropical hideaway closer to nature Miridiya Lodge in Anuradhapra will go for a major expansion of Rs 50 million next year to upgrade the hotel to four star category, Miridiya Hotel Acting Manager LB Jayasinghe told Daily News Business.

The hotel management has strongly felt the need to upgrade it from present two star level with the increase of tourist arrivals after the end of the war. The hotel has maintained 70 percent occupancy during the last three months out of which 40 percent was local tourists, he said.

The expansion plan includes construction of eight luxury rooms, upgrading existing rooms, banquet hall, conference hall, new restaurant by the Nuwara Wewa lake and a total refurbishment.

Jayasinghe said the other aspects of the development plan will be improvement of customer service, local and foreign food varieties, introduction of traditional entertainment and tour packages to operate from the hotel.

At present all these things are done by the travel agents but those who come on their own could get the benefit of new packages. These tour packages will cover Anuradhapura pilgrim tour, Yala, Vilpattu, and other important places. A number of new job opportunities also will emerge with this apart.

The expansion programme will be completed by 2015.