Citrus Hikkaduwa Opens Citrus Leisure 600 Room Foray to better Harness the Post War Rebound in Sri Lanka

23rd January 2012, www.ft.lk

Newest but fastest growing in the hospitality industry, Citrus Leisure Plc, on Saturday kicked off its planned 600 room foray to better harness the post-war rebound with the opening of 93-room and Citrus Hikkaduwa.

Citrus Leisure Chairman Prema Cooray, a veteran hotelier, said that the Company plans to build 150 room resort in Waskaduwa by 2013, a 155-room plus a Presidential Suit and 50 exclusive Villas in Kalpitiya, and a further 40 Villas initially in Pasikuda.  He also revealed that a 200 room city hotel in Hambantota is also on the cards.


The resort (previously known as Amaya Reef), was expanded from the original 50 room in addition a sleek refurbishment, all completed within a record five months. The new resort includes 51 standard rooms, 40 delux rooms and two suites.

Furthermore, a brand new 190 pax banquet hall, a 140-capacity restaurant – Lemon Fish, a tranquil Spa as well as an exclusive wine and cigar bar – Summer Salt have been added.

“Following the end of the war, Sri Lanka’s tourism profile has considerably improved. We (Sri Lanka) are on a high. The attractiveness is unparallel in this part of the region whilst Sri Lanka’s biodiversity is also the highest in Asia.

Citrus will lead from the front in harnessing the true potential of Sri Lanka,” Cooray said.
Citrus Chief also said that the business model pursued by the Company was unique and it is energetically driven by its major shareholders – Divasa Equity, owned by the trio – DilithJayaweera, VaruniAmunugama Fernando and Sarva Ameresekere.

In a bid to complet the offering, the Company has launched Citrus Vaccation to handle in-bound and outbound travel whilst to Citrus Aqua has been floated to maximize the potential in water-based recreation.

Related Info :

• Citrus Leisure, Formerly Hotel Reefcomber, to Build a 4 Star Resort in Kalpitiya. 150 Rooms and 28 Water Front Villa

Citrus Leisure Raises Finances for Two Hotel Projects in Kalpitiya and Waskaduwa

22nd February 2011, www.news360.lk

Two newly formed subsidiaries of Citrus Leisure PLC have raised a combined sum of Rs. 923.5 million via two private placements to build separate hotel projects in Kalpitiya and Waskaduwa.
Accordingly the Waskaduwa Beach Resort Limited, an arm of the Citrus Leisure has raised Rs. 520 million by issuing 52 million shares at Rs. 10 each.

While Kalpitiya Beach Resort Limited which also comes under Citrus Leisure, has raised Rs. 403.5 million by issuing 40.35 million shares.

The Company officials said the raising of money via two private placements concluded during last week.

Citrus Leisure PLC has invested a total sum of Rs. 1926.5 million in both the Waskaduwa Beach Resort Limited and Kalpitiya Beach Resort Limited and has the controlling stakes of both entities.

Citrus announced subsequently, Waskaduwa Beach Resort Limited and Kalpitiya Beach Resort Limited will also apply for a listing in the Colombo Stock Exchange.

Related Info :

• Citrus Leisure, Formerly Hotel Reefcomber, to Build a 4 Star Resort in Kalpitiya. 150 Rooms and 28 Water Front Villas

Citrus Leisure, Formerly Hotel Reefcomber, to Build a 4 Star Resort in Kalpitiya. 150 Rooms and 28 Water Front Villas

02nd January 2011, www.sundayobserver.lk

Citrus Leisure PLC, formerly Hotel Reefcomber PLC, has marked its name change with an announcement to build a four star resort in Kalpitiya following the acquisition of a 78 acre land, "Santhoduwa-Kalpitiya". The total investment in the land amounted to Rs. 122.18 million. The acquisition is the company's second, following a change in management earlier this year.

The proposed resort will comprise 150 rooms and 28 water front villas. The 28 water front villas will be built facing a 50 meter-wide waterway which cuts through the land and connects at the end to the sea.

These exclusive water villas will have individual gondolas providing the occupants access to the sea. In a unique proposition, the villas will be made available to local and foreign high net worth individuals on the basis of a 99-year lease. Citrus Leisure will operate the villas as part of the hotel with the concurrence of their owners, managing and marketing them accordingly.

The "Santhoduwa-Kalpitiya" site is ideally placed in close proximity to the whale- and dolphin-watching sites in the seas off Kalpitiya and the magnificent Wilpattu national park, home to the elephant and the elusive Ceylon leopard. The company believes the proposed resort will cater to the growing demand for suitable star class accommodation along the North West coast of Sri Lanka.

Chairman of Citrus Leisure PLC, tourism-veteran Prema Cooray said, "Our decision to enter Kalpitiya is a strategic one that considers the area's vast untapped potential to become a tourist hotspot. Kalpitiya is one of the zones being targeted in the government's new vision for tourism and Citrus Leisure PLC is excited to be a flagbearer in the emergence of Destination Kalpitiya."

Renowned architect Murad Ismail has come on board to design the resort, bringing with him his extensive experience in designing world-class properties, including the prestigious Four Seasons Hotel in the Maldives.

The purchase of the "Santhoduwa-Kalpitiya" land is the company's second major acquisition following its purchase of a 7.2 acre beach property in Waskaduwa, where construction will begin in early 2011 on a 150 roomed 4-star property.

Related Info:
Ippantivu and Velli Islands Leased under Kalpitiya Integrated Tourism Resort Project (KITRP) for Five Star Resorts