Business Times

Another eco-tourism property as Sri Lanka moves big-time in boutique hotels

By Quintus Perera

Tirippane, Anuradhapura -- Usually it is not quite possible for a business or industrial concern to afford a total solution, at least sustenance with nature. Yet there is one business which tries to keep abreast and close to the nature and also an attempt to provide a total solution.

Ulagalla Walawwa Resort (Pvt) Ltd (Luxury Boutique Hotel) , part of Finco Group and a BOI approved project is utilizing an area of 58 acres, in Tirappane about 23 km from Anuradhapura to develop 25 luxurious villasat a cost of around Rs 700 million.

A group of journalists were taken to Tirappane to witness the project being completed, recently. The site they have chosen is an old Walauwa - first the ancestral abode of a village chieftain Nikawewa family and then the Panabokke’s of Kandyan fame that has been operating for the last 200 years.
The developers are using the Walauwa in its entirety with some modifications to suit the modern architectural trend as for example, they have converted the infamous torture chamber to punish the errand servants etc of the Walawwa as the wine cellar of the Resort. The resort is the brainchild of ICC / FINCO Vice Chairman Harsha De Saram.

Ranjan Dissabandara, General Manager who was at hand along with two other officials Ranjaka De Mel, General Manager, Marketing and Lalin De Mel, Resident Manager to answer the queries of the media said that in developing this resort they are very near to a total solution as they have in the first place not disturbed the spirit and tranquility of the land they use or the vicinity.

Unlike other similar projects they have not used virgin land but a land that has been in use. Though elephants and other animals wandered at the backyard of the Walauwa it is a land that animal and people cohabited with two irrigation tanks (Wewas) and the jungle covering two sides. They have selected the areas to erect villas very carefully to avoid cutting down any trees but chosen land covered only with scrub jungle. In fact they have started growing 1,000 large trees within their land.

Most of the walls of these villas are fitted with planks that are built with a mixture of paddy straw. To retain the coolness of villas a special kind of imported straw are used on the roof. Mr Dissabandara said that when the resort commences operations – soft opening by May and full operation in August – they will employ 30% of the required staff from the area. Inside their compound they are maintaining. 20 acre flush paddy field meeting their total rice needs and very much more. Mr De Mel said that every three months they are training 10 youth from the area as naturalists and tour guides. They intend to absorb a part of them and the balance could obtain ready employment as they will be trained.

Most importantly is spending a massive Rs 120 million in constructing a solar panel to obtain 125 KVA electricity that would take care of 50% of their energy requirements when the resort is in full operation. But when it is not at full capacity the excess electricity will be sold to the Ceylon Electricity Board.
They are installing water purification plants and all waste water is recycled to be used for their massive plantations. Their plans are to grow all the needs of their vegetable and fruits and any shortfall they intend to buy from the area itself. They have already earmarked some farmers to outsource their balance fruits and vegetable and these farmers would also be provided with some inputs and training.

The entire waste matter of the resort will be collected to make compost manure for their vegetable and fruit garden and guests could taste the fresh fruits and vegetable that is plucked just outside their challets. The required cowdung for the compost would be purchased from the villagers.
Though the Ulagalla Walawwa is completely isolated and is in a remote village atmosphere, the resort is fitted with all the modern internationally accepted hotel facilities – you name it they have it. Horse riding, archery, canoeing are some of the recreational facilities.

Two irrigation tanks that link the jungle are on the border of the Walauwa and careful guests could watch the wild animals slip out of the jungle to drink water from the tanks in the wee hours when the rest of the world is asleep.

The resort has fixed the villa rate, half board at a price of US $ 250. The Ulagalla Resort concept is comparatively unique as it appears to be closest to nature and stands out as it hasn’t compromised nature. The company is also working on two other hotel resort projects.

Top to the page  |  E-mail  |  views[1]
SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend
 
Other Business Times Articles
New US GSP term amidst labour rights row
Mobile broadband to drive Dialog’s growth
Court reprimands MBSL chief Ratnayake over Ceylinco share issue
Hayleys sets up special leisure unit
Treasury guarantees billions of rupees in loans to state orgs
Eran quits, NDB appoints new CEO
Innovative advertising as mobile market battle heats up
Comment - Business with Jaffna: Walk before you leap
IMF loan suspension won’t affect Lankan finances
Why women are better investors than men
Economics of Poor Property Rights
'FH Studio Collection' to Czech Republic after Colombo Fashion Week success
Lankem to export agriculture crops
Ceylinco Shriram depositors to get relief
Jaffna trade fair to draw Indian exhibitors too
IT for 30 small businesses in remote villages
Jaffna BPO programme draws 4,000 students
GSP+ loss may result in South Asia becoming Lanka’s preferred partner – top economist
Corporate foundation appeals to politicians to ‘stop wasting money’
Easing trade, investment barriers can unlock South Asia's vast potential - report
Corporate response to sustainability insufficient
Windows 7 sells 30 million copies in 2 months
GSK completes acquisition of Stiefel in Sri Lanka
SMB to change name SMB Holdings
Virtusa holds ‘software testing festival’
SEC CEO Channa planning to quit
Kumar Sangakkara becomes Viva brand ambassador
350 undergrads attend Moratuwa University soft skills workshop
35 teams compete in 'CX Chinese New Year Challenge'
Commercial Bank profits grow despite tough 2009
Colombo Dockyard’s profit to stabilise
Govt. needs to cut deficit amidst rising inflation
Comprehensive Sri Lanka promotion in Europe launched in Brussels
Growth through Sri Lanka’s bond market
Issues over new ICASL President, PBJ as Chief Guest at inauguration
Ceylinco Insurance says over 65% customers ‘returning home’
Budget deficit above 2009 targets - report
Major Sri Lankan tourism campaign in New York
Janashakthi ready to exploit potential in North and East
Asiri to invest Rs 600 million in Matara Medi House
WaveNET offers 3G video calls to GSM
CCC trade mission to Indian cities
Audit firm KPMG re-starts Jaffna Branch
London Stock Exchange in new deal
IT industry body elects new board
Pioneering the web
Russel’s new outlet at APIIT
Insurance progress in North and East needs time
CBB helps drive business with Britain
Another eco-tourism property as Sri Lanka moves big-time in boutique hotels

 

 
Reproduction of articles permitted when used without any alterations to contents and a link to the source page.
© Copyright 2010 | Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.Colombo. Sri Lanka. All Rights Reserved.| Site best viewed in IE ver 6.0 @ 1024 x 768 resolution