Shangri-La Hotel ground-breaking ceremony

Indunil HEWAGE

The ground-breaking ceremony of Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo will take place on February 24 at Galle Road, Colombo 1, under the patronage of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

Hong Kong based leisure group, Shangri-La signed a deal with the Sri Lankan government in 2010 to purchase a government owned land facing the Galle Face green promenade to set up a luxury hotel. The hotel is also planning to open its second, a luxury hotel and resort on the southern Hambantota coast in 2013.

“We believe that Shangri-La will be able to assist in positioning the country as a prime global tourist destination. Both Shangri-La hotels strategically fit into the group?s ongoing plan to link the Indian subcontinent and contribute towards South East Asia development,” the hotel said in a statement.

Hong Kong-based Shang Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts currently owns and or manages 72 hotels under the Shangri-La, Kerry and Traders brands, with a room inventory of over 30,000.

In addition to Sri Lanka, the group has a substantial development pipeline with projects in Canada, mainland China, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Mongolia, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Turkey and United Kingdom.