Semondu launched at Old Dutch Hospital

"Refreshing to dine and relax in buildings of a bygone era" Colombo city is regaining its lost glory and is becoming a place for the public to relax and enjoy during the day and night. The heart of the city, Colombo Fort is developing fast with the establishment of high-end shopping complexes, hotels and restaurants that are filled with people and is opened until late night.

The Old Dutch Hospital premises in Colombo Fort, which has been turned to a luxury shopping complex, has dramatically changed business in the city. The dilapidated building belonged to the Dutch era and has been renovated by the UDA reflecting old world charm.

The building was used during Dutch rule in Ceylon, from 1658 A.D as a hospital by the Dutch East India

Company being a convenient location for patients from ships coming into the Colombo port.

Sri Lankan Catering, a fully -owned subsidiary of the national carrier, SriLankan airlines recently opened its first restaurant,“Semondu” which is derived from the word “Simoundou” an ancient name for Sri Lanka given by Ptolomy, the famous Roman mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet. “The city of Colombo and its outskirts are developing fast, with international property developers vying for prime locations to set up multi- storied hotels and apartment complexes.In this concrete jungle, these buildings which have been proposed will even encroach into the ocean. "It is refreshing to walk into architecture of a bygone era and lunch or dine in total comfort and privacy while you watch the world go by,” Chairman, SriLankan Airlines, Nishantha Wickramasinghe said.

CEO of the Sri Lankan catering, Sarath Fernando said that “Semondu” offers the best cuisine in town fro the kitchens of SriLankan Airlines.

“Semondu's team of Chefs dish out an array of fusion cuisine, blending flavours, mixing and matching Asian and European cuisine, with an oriental touch, served by a highly skilled and professional service staff in the restaurant, which opens for lunch from 12:00 pm to 02.30 pm and dinner from 07.00 pm to 11.00 pm.

“We take pride in establishing an ideal location in the city to enjoy fusion cuisine, while also contributing to the efforts of the Government to make Colombo a vibrant city and promote tourism. Our theme at Semondu is fusion; fusion of cuisine, blending East and West and fusion of ambience, from colonial charm to modern magic.