Elephant Reach is located deep in the heart of southern Sri Lanka, which is at close proximity to the famous Yala National Park and just 45 minutes drive from Hambantota.
Built in 2006, after tsunami, Elephant Reach Hotel is an eco getaway, a private haven within the Yala National Park buffer zone. All its comfortable chalets are well equipped with ultra modern amenities.
Twenty one luxury rooms in double chalets give the nature lovers a taste of luxury living in the midst of the jungle.
Apart from their comforts and culinary delights, the hotels main aim is to attract the nature and adventure travellers. Since the name Elephant Reach synonymous with elephants, the hotel has started a new elephant protection project.
‘We have already planned an elephant protection project through an INGO.We will organize workshops to educate young generation about elephant conservation as well. ER hopes to involve as an active mediator to make sustainable solution to the elephant human conflict. Also we have develop a long term plans for this project’ said Malinga Fernando, the MD of the Elephant Reach Hotel.
He also added that the hotel has also invited Sri Lankans expert on this subject to share their suggestions.
Malinga, who has years of experience in the hospitality trade has worked in Hilton - Sri Lanka, Inter Continental - Switzerland, Marriott Hotels & Resorts - United Kingdom, Hyatt - USA, Doubletree – USA.
He is professionally qualified in the field of hotel management holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Hospitality Management - Kendall College, Les Roches, School of Hotel Management, Chicago, USA and Swiss Hotel Diploma in Hotel Management - Les Roches, School of Hotel Management in Switzerland.
He has a keen interest in developing agro based tourism in Sri Lanka. ‘South has a rich culture which is based on agriculture. The Elephant Reach Hotel is keen on those behaviors and have plans to promote them. We will offer the tourists local foods, educate them on the southern culture and its values. Also we have started to construct new wing of rooms build surrounding a wet paddy land as eco lodgers with all modern facilities’ he added.
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| Malinga Fernando |
This part of the hotel will feature all agro based activities such as Meekiri processing center, Hena , batiks designed center, folk art centre and rural industry projects. ‘This will encourage visitors to and rural day to day life at first hand’
Hot air ballooning and helicopter tours are also on the line with new Elephant Reach projects.
Apart from all these activities, the hotel has now undertaken to develop the community by conducting classes to improving English Language skills, conducting vocational training programmes.
‘Give back to the community is our motto and I think that is the correct way of keeping the eco friendly projects at the village level’ he said.
Elephant Reach has joined hands with selected Universities and provide the opportunities to get practical knowledge in environment studies, hotel management and basic knowledge on wild life activities to university students. |
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