'CHOGM, a shot in the arm for MICE tourism'

By Lalin Fernandopulle

Beautification and upgrading of facilities at Waters Edge, Battaramulla, the venue for the retreat of Heads of State of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) is progressing smoothly, said Waters Edge, General Manager, Rohan Fernandopulle.

He said preparations have been made to host the Heads of State for the retreat sessions on November 16 and 17. Roads leading to the hotel will be given a facelift and convenient parking facilities will be provided for visitors.

Water's Edge was selected last year by the Commonwealth Committee to host the Heads of State for the retreat sessions.

The hotel which launched operations in December 2004, is a subsidiary of the Urban Development Authority. It is a five star, F and B hotel that has won many local and international accolades. “Our staff with the support of the UDA is working round the clock to meet deadlines and are confident we would complete the preparations on time.

The CHOGM committees are pleased with the arrangements at the hotel which will be the cynosure of all eyes,” Fernandopulle said.

The two-day program will begin with the sports breakfast, retreat session and lunch hosted by President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the Heads of State.

“Our property is a preferred venue for MICE tourism which makes a salient contribution to the tourism industry in Sri Lanka. The hotel has been the venue for a large number of international conferences, seminars and meetings,” Fernandopulle said.

“We are pleased to have been selected to host the retreat session for the Heads of State,” he said.

He said that the hotel will come up with Japanese, Chinese and Italian theme restaurants and will have two ballrooms and the longest bar in the country is named the ‘Long Bar'.

“Plans are afoot to build 200 rooms within the next two and a half years which will make it a full-fledged hotel,” Fernandopulle said.

The tourism industry will be a key beneficiary of CHOGM 2013 which will be a major boost to the tourism industry in Sri Lanka, a senior official of the hotel said.

“The attention of the world will be on Sri Lanka during the Commonwealth meeting which will be a great opportunity to showcase the immense potential of our country for tourism and business,” she said.

Chairman of the Commonwealth Business Council, Dr. Mohan Kaul told the media last week said that the Council was happy to note that there had been a tremendous response across the Commonwealth and outside Commonwealth for business partnership with Sri Lanka.