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| Sunday, 22 August 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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World's end from Roeberry, Madulsima by Chanuka Mannapperuma The next time you are taking a trip to Badulla to see the early settlers don't forget to break journey to visit Madulsima Worldsend.
Travelling a distance of 180 Km from Colombo you reach the Passara town and from there get on to the Pitamaruwa Road, and reach Madulsima. Legend says that the town got its name 'Pitamaruwa' because this was the place tea boxes being transported were exchanged from one set of caravans to another. The Madulsima worldsend is located at the end of the lush tea Plantation Roeberry Estate. When you reach you will see a range of mountains dotted with small, dry forests. The salient feature of Madulsima Worldsend is,that the visitor can view a vast plain starting at the bottom of the mountain and ending towards the East coast.But at Horton Plains visitors are able to see a range of mountains and rock debris from a precipice.It is managed by the Tourist Board of the Uva Province. The elevation of the Madulsima mountain is 1257 feet and is 2300-3400 above sea level. The highest part of the rock belongs to Roeberry estate and the lower part to the Dorapoda in Bibile district. The range of mountains are always covered in mist and has salubrious climate at all times.A panoramic view of water falls such as Umang Oya, Bambarabotuwa and Kekunagala can be seen. When you reach the top of the hill it is possible to see, other ranges of rocks such as Dehigala and Doraboda covered in with the thin forests. ************ JKH on massive restructuring program by Chanuka Mannapperuma John Keells Holdings (JKH) has embarked upon a massive restructuring process investing Rs 3.5 billion, bringing its Sri Lankan and Maldivian resorts (city hotels excluded) under one single holding company. Chairman of JKH V. Lintotawela said that this would ensure greater capital, administrative and operating efficiencies and also turn JKH into a giant company. For this purposes, Lintotawela disclosed that the Group had identified Keells Hotels Limited(KHL) at present a 100% owned subsidiary of John Keels Holdings Limited (JKL) to be the future holding company of its hotel sector, with the 11 hotel companies consolidated under this new structure. Already, KHL has announced a voluntary offer in accordance with the provisions of the Company Take Overs and Mergers Code 1995(as amended) to acquire all the outstanding shares of the above companies in a swap,whereby KHL would issue an equivalent value of its own shares priced at Rs.60 each as considerations. Speaking at a Press briefing Chairman said KHL is in the process of obtaining a listing on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and those shareholders accepting the offer will be allocated listed shares. The offer constitutes an attractive value proposition to all investors as benefits include ,exposure to the lucrative Maldivian sector of the JKH,reduced investor risk to the volatilities in the local tourism sector and the ability to hold a more capital efficient investment due to the greater asset and earning backing of a group of nine hotels compared to the single\dual hotel investments presently held by them.(CM) ************ New Chinese chefs at Trans Asia's Long Feng Restaurant The new master chef at the Long Feng Restaurant of the Trans Asia Hotel, Bai Ping commenced his cooking career at the tender age of 19, working his way up from a cook at Sichuan Hotel in Luo Yang city to master chef at Tian Guan restaurant in Mian Yang city in Sichuan Province. He also served in several other properties, notably the Golden Flower Hotel in Xian city, a 4-star property and in the Beijing Capital Airport Hotel, a 3-star property. Ping has won several awards during his career, including the advanced cooking certificate and 1st prize in the delicious food competition organized by the civil aviation system hotels. Hailing from Sichuan Province, Ping naturally specializes in Schuan cuisine, as well as Dim Sum, Cantonese and Shandong food. He is known for turning out colourful, presentable, fragrant and delicious dishes, to meet the many requirements of guests. Also joining Trans Asia Hotel as Asst. Chinese Chef is Yang Lin Lin, who has eight years of cooking experience behind him, and has worked as a cook in several prestigious properties, such as Beijing Golden Era Hotel (3-star), Beijing North Garden Hotel (4-star) and as chef de Partie at Beijing Continental Grand Hotel (4-star). Yang's specialties are mainly Cantonese and some Sichuan, Beijing and Shangai dishes. They are both looking forward to their stay in Sri Lanka and to prepare authentic Chinese dishes for the patrons of Long Feng Restaurant. Animation Centre at Sanhindiyawa-Chilaw by Dr. Granville Fernando "Sanhidiyawa" means peace and contentment. It is a fitting name when one considers the serenity and beauty of the surroundings. The 'Animation Centre' has proved to be a boon to people of all grades. Government servants, Bank personnel, NGOs., students etc. are regular users of this centre. It means that a need for such a centre had existed. What strikes a visitor is the quietness and serenity of the place. It is quite close to the Deduru Oya. It is hard to imagine that it is on the main trunk line road from Chilaw to Puttlam. The buildings have been so designed that a sense of quietness is preserved. The garden is well maintained. Another added feature is that a small stream runs on two sides of the property. It was after a serious study that this particular site was chosen for this Animation Centre. The clinching reason was the nearness to the Chilaw town where provisions could easily be got. The charges are very moderate. Evidently that is one of the reasons for the popularity of the centre. The centre is equipped with the essential electronic devices such as TV., DVD over head projector etc. A generator is always on stand by. Various groups that come for seminars have expressed their appreciation of the facilities provided, the services given, and the general set up of the place. The Animation Centre has become very popular. Bookings have sometimes to be turned down because there are too many. Sanhidiyawa is on the Puttalam road proceeding from Chilaw, a little before arriving at the Deduru Oya bridge. There is sleeping accommodation for 75 people. One-day non-residential seminars could accommodate about 125 persons. The manager is Cyril Rajapakse. |
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