Tissamaharama Resort

On the blue waters of Tissa Wewa:

Beverley JANSZ

Tissamaharama Resort, a flagship property owned and managed by the Ceylon Hotels Corporation is located by the beautiful Tissa wewa, an ancient reservoir built 2300 years ago by King Kawantissa.

The resort is a popular base for tourists visiting the sacred shrine at Kataragama, especially during its annual festival in August each year.

The resort has 60 rooms including 25 that are air-conditioned, and three family suites. All guest rooms are built in such a manner that guests get a panoramic view of the blue waters of the Tissa wewa, from the rooms.

The resort offers all modern facilities to the discerning traveller. It has a large and beautiful swimming pool overlooking the Tissa wewa.

The food at the resort is unique. The hotel is very particular in serving traditional Sri Lankan cuisine. An ‘A-la-carte’ menu, Western, Eastern and Chinese food too are served.

On weekends, the resort takes a carnival atmosphere with tourists and Sri Lankan families taking part in boat rides on the Tissa wewa, and taking a dip in the blue waters of the swimming pool built adjacent to the Tissa wewa.

After the Gardiner Group took over major shapes of the Ceylon Hotels Corporation, all rest houses, hotels, resorts and motels owned and managed by the CHC, have seen a new lease of life with more professional approach, without affecting the old charm.

Gardiner Group Chairman, Sanjiv Gardiner who has been in the tourist industry for over 30 years, firmly believes in the importance of developing domestic tourism, and therefore has picked Chief Executive Officer Anura Lokuhetti a well experienced and versatile hotelier to drive his vision to upgrade all CHC properties including the Kandy Queens and Suisse hotels, and the Lihiniya Surf Hotel, Bentota, thereby creating a new niche in the domestic and International Tourism Sector.
 

Tissamaharama Resort is an ideal stop-over for relaxation, for tourists visiting Kataragama, and Yala and Bundala sanctuaries. It is also popular for bird-watching, Lokuhetti said.

“Do not forget to taste the curd and treacle at our Tissamaharama Resort while on your way to Kataragama, Yala or Bundala, if you do, you will definitely come back” says CEO, Anura Lokuhetty.

Lokuhetti said that the concept that Chairman Sanjiv Gardiner believes is to develop tourism through community participation.

Therefore Gardiner Group Hotels are creating employment opportunities to the village folk by purchasing their products.

Tissamaharama Resort is owned and managed by the Gardiner Group. Its Chairman is Sanjiv Gardiner.

Lalitha Hotel now boasts of three banqueting halls

Beverley JANSZ

Matara is a fast developing town but due to the lack of banquet halls, residents had to book hotels from Galle or Colombo for weddings, seminars, workshops and other banquet functions.

This long standing need has now been fulfilled with the opening of the first star class hotel in Matara, Lalitha Hotel built at Pamburana, Matara which offers three large banquet halls. The hotel also has a beautiful swimming pool which is the only pool from Matara to Hambantota.

The Emerald fully air-conditioned Banquet Hall at Lalitha Hotel can cater to over 300 guests, while the fully air-conditioned Sapphire banquet hall can accommodate over 200 guests. The non A/C Ruby Banquet Hall can cater to over 250 guests.

All three banquet halls are ideal for weddings, in-house seminars, and conferences, for which the hotel offers all modern facilities, says Chairman, Lalitha Hotel, Lionel Liyanage.

Hitherto there was no base for NGO’s, Banking Financial and Insurance Companies in and around Matara to conduct seminars.

Lalitha has therefore become very popular for seminars, Lionel said. Speaking on the menus offered to guests the well experienced food and beverage manager Prasanna Jayasuriya said that the hotel offers delicious, Western, Eastern, Chinese and Spicy Sri Lankan cuisine prepared by Executive Chef Pushpakumara Pathinayaka in the form of buffets for those who attend seminars.

Jayasuirya said that the Saturday night BBQ and the Sunday Lunch International buffet have got very popular among residents from in and around Matara.

A special feature is the “Kiddies Menu” which is a part of the A-la-carte menu. Chairman, Lalitha Hotel, Lionel Liyanage said that his hotel has become extremely popular as a “stop-over” for both, foreign and local tourists visiting Kataragama, Yala sanctuary, Tissamaharama and Hambantota.

Lalitha Hotel is a family hotel. It directors are Lionel Liyanage (Chairman) his daughter Sumudu Maduranga (Managing Director) and wife Mrs. Anula Weeratunga (Director).

Livewires in Hospitality Industry

Ranjan Peiris New GM at Queen’s/Suisse

Ranjan who began his hotel career as a trainee, worked in over 10 hotels. Climbing the ladder of success rapidly, Ranjan became the general manager of five leading hotels - Lihiniya Surf, Bentota, Sigiriya Village, Sigiriya, Tropical Villas, Beruwala, Light House Hotel, Galle and Eden Resort and Spa, Beruwala.

A unique feature here is that Ranjan was at Tropical Villas and Light House Hotel from the construction stages. Implementation of operations, manuals and running the actual operations of these hotels had been the responsibility of Ranjan.

These two star class hotels always ran at profits “Ranjan said. Ranjan has now been appointed general manager, of two of Kandy’s prestigious and heritage properties - Queen’s Hotel and Suisse Hotel, Kandy.

Ranjan is the President of the Ceylon Hotels School and specialises in Food and Beverage. He counts over 25 years experience in the hotel industry.

Romesh Xavier from Steward to General Manager

Having finished his studies at St.Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya, Romesh Xavier began his hotel career as a trainee steward at the Inter-Continental Hotel (now Ceylon Continental) in 1976.

He was subsequently absorbed into the House Keeping Department as Houseman and later promoted to Room Boy. In 1983, Romesh left for Abu Dhabhi and worked at Inter-Continental Hotel as a Room Boy, and was subsequently promoted to the post of supervisor.

Romesh returned to Sri Lanka and joined the Galadari Hotel as a supervisor. From Galadari he joined Lihiniya Surf Hotel, Bentota as a House Keeper. From Lihiniya Surf, Romesh joined Club Dolphin, Waikkala as a House Keeper, and later promoted to executive assistant to the manager.

After serving Club Dolphin for a short stint, Romesh climbed the ladder of success in his hotel career when he was offered the post of manager, Reef Comber (The Reef), Hikkaduwa. Romesh reached the Zenith of his hotel career when he was offered the post of General Manager. Centuria Lake Resort, Embilipitiya, where he in serving for the past over 10 years.

Since Romesh took over Centuria, the hotel was successful in obtaining one-star status. “Now are going for 3-star status, as Centuria is the only tourist hotel in Embilipitiya to obtain star class status,” Romesh said. Sarachchandra Group of companies who owns Centuria, are planning to build more hotels in and around Embilipitiya, Romesh said.