Shangri-La hotels enters local hospitality industry

Indunil HEWAGE

The ground breaking ceremony of the much awaited Shangri-La hotel, Colombo, took place yesterday in the presence of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and a large number of foreign and local dignitaries.

The Shangri-La hotel Colombo with 661 rooms will be opened in mid 2015 and the property will be fully integrated into the local community from the very beginning, offering employment opportunities and infrastructural support. In 2010, Hong -Kong based leisure group ,Shangri - La hotels and resorts announced the purchase of 10 acres of government owned land facing the Galle Face Green promenade.

“The Shangri-La hotel entry into Sri Lanka will change the entire paradigm of the local hospitality industry while making Sri Lanka a preferred tourism destination among high end international holiday makers. In addition, the foundation laying ceremony of Shangri -La Hambantota Resort and Spa will take place today and this would be a 315 room city hotel built on approximately 145 acres of land in Hambantota .

The opening of the Shangri -La Hambantota Resort and spa will strategically fit into the group’s ongoing expansion plan to link the Indian Subcontinent with the rapid development in South East Asia,” Shangri-La Asia Executive Director Madhu Ramachandra Rao said.