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| Sunday, 11 January 2004 |
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CHC awaits green light for Nepal project by SUREKHA GALAGODA The Ceylon Hotels Corporation (CHC) is planning to take over the management of the hostel built by the Late President R. Premadasa in Lumbini, Nepal for the convenience of pilgrims who visit the place to pay homage to the Lord Buddha. A visit was undertaken recently by CHC officials to do a feasibility study for which all arrangements were handled by the Ministry of Buddha Sasana. General Manager, CHC, Sahinda Wegodapola said: "We have discussed this issue among the management and given our offer to the Ministry of Buddha Sasana as we have to agree on the source of funding". "We are interested in the project and will go ahead as soon as we get the green light as the project is very feasible; the place is also very eco-friendly". Wegodapola was of the view that they will have to spend about five million rupees for renovations. The hostel can accommodate 180 persons. At present it is being operated by a private owner and is in a dilapidated condition. Lumbini is a fast developing area and the Lumbini Development Trust has demarcated a large area and allocated separate areas for different countries. "If we are given the green light, we will recruit the key staff from Sri Lanka while others will be recruited from the areas surrounding Lumbini. This is also an opportunity for locals to find employment," he added. In keeping with the CHC concept 'Gedara wage kema welak; thamagema navathenak', guests will feel at home. Vegetarian meals will be served in keeping with Nepali traditions. The main objective of handing over the management to CHC is to provide clean basic facilities at affordable rates. It will take some time to recover the investment, but it is a service to the devotees who flock to pay homage to the Lord Buddha. CHC was established in 1966 to promote tourism in the country and has 20 properties in the best locations around Sri Lanka. Each rest house specialises in local food unique to the area without serving carrots and beans around the country.About 85 per cent of CHC's guests are locals and "we at all times try to cater to everybody, providing a homely atmosphere and mouth watering cuisine in addition to the beautiful surroundings. Even the foreigners who come to our rest houses get an opportunity to taste the local food in their true form," he said. CHC recorded profits in all years except 2001. The highest profit making ventures are the Ambepussa, Ella and Kitulgala Rest Houses. |
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