'Vil Uyana' opens in September

Irangika RANGE

INVESTMENT: Vil Uyana, a luxury eco hotel project of Jetwing Hotels Ltd in Sigiriya will commence operation in September offering vast experience in nature and culture with the comforts of a modern hotel. The total investment for the project is Rs. 360 million.

The project has been built in an eco-friendly manner using traditional methods of farming and harvesting.

Jetwing Hotels Ltd Managing Director Hiran Cooray said abandoned paddy fields have been converted to fertiled paddy fields and also natural lakes have been created in the total area of 23 acres using 200 years old irrigation system.

"We never utilized chemical fertiliser to grow paddy,"he said. The company has waited for a long time to get approvals from 21 authorities. The project has also been largely contributed to develop the area by providing electricity, water and many job opportunities.

The introduction of a wetland in abandoned agricultural lands within the Dry Zone, provides the unique backdrop for this exciting new property. The hotel has constructed a wetland system with lakes and reed beds to form a private nature reserve.

This has allowed for the first time in Sri Lanka for rooms to be built over water pavilions and marsh pavilions.

Centered on water bodies are parklands and woodlands, designed for leisure following ancient practices of planning gardens for pleasure. Steps are also taken to convert dry zone 'chena' by burning unwanted flora and thereby transforming those lands to seasonal wetlands.

The components of the ecosystem will be subjected to continue monitoring. Comfortable accommodation is provided for researchers locally and internationally, overcoming one of the key logistics hurdles to fieldwork.

The research center also has a library; a room for laboratory based work and a computer room.