Rs. 500 m Ananthaya to be set up in Bangadeniya

Laugfs Leisure Ltd. the leisure arm of Laugfs Holdings Ltd. will commence work on the Rs. 500 million small luxury hotel 'Ananthaya' in Bangadeniya, Chilaw by January 2008, said General Manager Laugfs Leisure Ltd. Aruna Jayalath.

Laugfs Leisure Ltd. has applied for membership from the Small Luxury Hotels Association UK which will undertake to supervise the hotel project which will be completed by mid 2009.

Jayalath said the hotel set up on a 16-acre land bordering the Dutch Canal and the sea will boost tourism in the area. The hotel which will cater to the high-end clientele will be a prime destination for MICE tourism.

The hotel will have nine villas with modern amenities and a swimming pool in every room capturing a view of the lagoon and sea.

"The objective in setting up a hotel away from the hustle and bustle of the city life is to promote the country's scenic beauty and other prime locations which are ideal for tourism", Jayalath said.

He said terrorism should not be a hindrance to neglect promoting tourism which is a potential industry for the country. Chilaw, a home for fisheries and other cottage industries, its sandy beaches and the historic Munneshwaram Kovil will be a centre of attraction for tourists.

The hotel will have 29 suite type rooms and two common swimming pools, one with sea water and the other with fresh water.The spa will be managed by a European spa operating company. The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority has launched a 10-year tourism master plan to develop the coastal belt up to Kalpitiya.

Chairman, Laugfs Holdings Ltd. W. K. H. Wegapitiya said the company will set up a Chinese restaurant and supermarket in Negombo early this month.

LF