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| Sunday, 20 October 2002 |
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Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Country Comfort - in the misty mountains by Beverley Jansz The vision of a young man who began his hotel career as a receptionist to build his own hotel someday, became a reality when the foundation stone was laid for the Country Comfort Hotel, Ella in 1998. The star class hotel with 20 deluxe rooms now stands majestically in the misty mountains of Ella, in close proximity to the Ella railway station. The proud owner is Santhikumar Fernando, Managing Director, Country Comfort Hotel who began his hotel career right from the scratch, at the Ella Rest House (now re-named Grand Ella Hotel). Right from the foundation stone, every brick that made up this hotel was supervised and checked by Shanthikuma himself. He had no building contractor. He handled the entire project. The encouragement and unstinted support rendered by Shanthikuma's wife, Swarna, made the task easy, he said. The marvellous design, architecture and landscaping of Country Comfort Hotel were the work of Shanthikuma himself, with N. U. Sirisena as the Structural Engineer. The elegantly furnished rooms are fitted with the latest designs in modern furniture and toilet fittings. All rooms are equipped with large TV, hot/cold water, telephone and other facilities. The spacious restaurant offers its guests delicious international cuisine, with typical Sri Lankan dishes in abundance. All rooms provide a breathtaking view of the luscious green tea plantation of Ella. The cool climate of Ella, the sounds of the singing birds, the scenic view of the water falls being in close reach to the hotel, has made Country Comfort a paradise hideout for tourists, both foreign and Sri Lankan and especially to honeymooners. The hotel caters to family outings, company outings, picnics and other functions. The hotel overlooks a large playground on which guests can play cricket and other games. Shanthikuma is a versatile hotelier with over 24 years experience at the Ceylon Hotels Corporation. He gained wide experience in the hotel trade by working as the Manager of two large properties owned by the CHC, Tissa Rest House and Hotel Seruwa, Polonnaruwa.Shanthikuma's two sons, Sushan Fernando and Suren Fernando are also following the footsteps of the father. They are following a degree in Hotel Management at the Ceylon Hotels School. There is no doubt that Sushan and Suren will soon be two of Sri Lanka's leading hoteliers. Shanthikuma is now diverting to Eco-Tourism. He has acquired a 2-acre block of land in a most beautiful location facing the Kirindi Oya at Randeniya on the Ella-Wellawaya road about 12 km from the Country Comfort Hotel, on which he is planning to build a star class Eco Resort. ********************** Multi-talented doctor turns hotelier by BEVERLEY JANSZ When Dr. Nalaka Gunaratne graduated from the Colombo Medical Faculty in 1992, after finishing his studies at Thurstan College, his vision in life was to own a hotel some day. 'Treating over 200 patients a day with varied illnesses, undoubtedly requires a holiday away from the stress of life, Dr. Gunaratne said. This was the reason why I wanted to be a hotelier, to relax with my family after weeks of hard work in the medical profession, he said. In 1982, Dr. Gunaratne was the most outstanding student at Thurstan College and received his award from the late President, J. R. Jayewardene. Dr. Gunaratne's other ambition in life was to be a Criminal Medical Investigator. Within one week, after his final MBBS in 1992, Dr. Gunaratne joined the Police Force as a Reserve Assistant Superintendent of Police. He wanted to follow in the footsteps of his uncle, T. Lionel Fernando, the PA to former IGP Earnest Perera, and at present PA to Director General, National Intelligence Bureau (NIB). 'My mother always said that from my childhood I had always said that I would be a doctor one day, Nalaka, said, smilingly. Born in Jaffna in 1965 to a humble carpenter, M. C. Gunaratne who owned two furniture shops in Jaffna, Dr. Gunaratne lived as a child with their family at their ancestral home in Moratuwa, while the father continued his business in Jaffna.The sixth in a family of seven, four sisters, all graduates and two brothers, Janaka Gunaratne, Officer-in-Charge, Dematagoda Police, and the other a computer executive in a private company, Dr. Gunaratne met his life's partner, Danthika during his school days. After a two-year love affair, he said 'I do' to the daughter of the late Tissa Kurukulanatha, the founder and Secretary-General of ESCO (Educational Social Cultural Organisation), in 1984. 'The simple reason that I joined the Police Force as a reserve ASP and also followed a course in Criminology was that as a doctor, after graduating in Forensic medicine, I could diagnose the cause of death, if it is a murder, and bring the culprits to book', Dr. Gunaratne said. Dr. Nalaka Gunaratne is a man of many talents - a Criminal Medical Investigator, a Criminologist in law, and an expert in Forensic medicine. He leads a simple contented life with his family, a son and a daughter. His daughter, Navodi wants to follow in his footsteps, while his son, Akitha, is keen on flying as a Flight Engineer. Dr. Gunaratne is the Chairman of two hotels, Wedderburn Rest, Nuwara Eliya, and Hotel Giman Hala, Matara. He is attached to the Base Hospital, Nuwara Eliya. ********************** Global flavours at Ceylon Continental The latest attraction at the Ceylon Continental Hotel is the "Theme Nights' introduced recently. 'We want to offer our guests global flavours in fine dining throughout the week', Food and Beverage Manager, Ceylon Continental Hotel, Nalaka Colambage said. A maestro in Food and Beverage, Colambage is working round the clock to satisfy the taste buds of both foreign guests and Sri Lankans. The 'Theme Nights' begin on Sunday with an International Buffet, followed by a Chinese buffet on Monday. Flavours from Italy are offered to guests on Tuesday at the 'Italian Night'. A wide spread of Asian dishes are offered on Wednesday, while guests savour a North and South American buffet on Thursday. 'The catch of the day' is offered to guests at the Seafood Buffet on Fridays with a wide spread of spicy dishes are offered to guests at the Sri Lanka buffet on Saturday. |
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