Sri Lanka is a Holidaymaker’s Paradise - Neeta Lal, A Malaysian Travel Writer

22 December 2010, www.news.lk

Sri Lanka is “Clearly, a holiday maker’s paradise”. The Malaysian Travel Writer Neeta Lal says Sri Lanka is perfect for the global traveler, and offers not only five-star accommodations in great locations but also delightful custom-made ‘experiences’.

She says an elephant ride on a star-lit beach, a champagne-soaked dinner under a star-spangled sky, or a river cruise to view one of the world’s most magical garden retreats are products available for tourists in Sri Lanka.

Describing her stay at Vivanta at Taj Resort in Bentota, the writer points out that nothing, it seems, is impossible to organise at the Resort in Bentota, a stunning, ocean-fronted property located on Sri Lanka’s southwest coast, the hotel is situated over a sinuous hill and offers 162 modern rooms with private sit-outs that overlook lush gardens and a glutinous Indian Ocean.

Writing about one of her excursions during her visit, Nita Lal says that the excursion took her to the enchanting 15-acre estate of Lunuganga, an exquisite piece of property that is a tropical rendition of an Italian garden. Fringing Deduwa Lake, and it is one of the world’s most magical garden retreats complete with statues, courtyards and lily ponds that flank secret pathways.

It was followed by a boat safari on the River Madhu, and the boat glided on the shimmering water, coursing through thick mangroves and rich flora and fauna. She also describes viewing the primitive style of fishing and prawn trapping still practised by the island’s inhabitants.

Neeta also praises about facilities available in Sri Lanka including rejuvenating massage and scrub available at Spas, state of the art fitness centres, the delicious food, spice infused curries and stews Sri Lanka is famous for, fine hotels, water sports activities, well connected road network to Colombo, and ayurvedic treatments.

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Sri Lanka Taj Hotels Rebraded and Upgared. Taj Samudra, Taj Vivanta Bentota & The Gateway Hotel Airport Garden Seeduwa Seen a Dramatic Turn Around

24th September 2010, www.lankabusinessonline.com

India's Taj group is looking for opportunities in Sri Lanka's war-torn eastern coast and a city hotel it controls will also need 30 to 35 million US dollars to be upgraded to fit the group's new brand portfolio, officials said.

The listed Taj Samudra hotel in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo has 300 rooms.

"It will take 30 to 35 million US dollars to re-do this property," executive director finance of Taj Resorts and Hotels, Anil Goel said.

The group is now evaluating the property to decide where to place it on the group's new portfolio of brands, he said.

Listed Taj Samudra is majority controlled by the Taj group.

Taj also owns a 50 percent stake in Taj Exotica, a 160 room resort in Sri Lanka's South West coast, which has been re-branded as 'Taj Vivanta Bentota' from this week.

It also manages a 130-room hotel near Sri Lanka's only international airport. The Taj Airport Garden hotel, owned by Sri Lanka's Hirdramani group will be put under 'The Gateway Hotel' brand from January 2011.

Its owners are upgrading 40 rooms and building 100 new rooms to increase capacity.

Taj is now evaluating the Colombo property to decide which brand to place it under.

Chief executive Raymond Bickson said the group has been scouting opportunities in the war-torn eastern province of Sri Lanka which has long undeveloped stretches of beach.

Goel said all three properties in Sri Lanka have seen a "dramatic turnaround" in the past few months which had made the group more confident about investing in Sri Lanka.

He said room rates have moved up from around 60 US dollars a day to near 100 dollars and is trending up, unlike during the war years. Occupancy was up.

"Unfortunately we could not command the rates (during the war years)," Goel said.

"There is no correlation between investment vis-a-vis the return from the market."

India itself sends more tourists to Sri Lanka than any other country. Up to August 2010, arrivals were up 46 percent to 397,000. Indian visitors were up 63 percent to 73,400.