Sri Lanka's Hemas group mulls hotel ventures

Nov 11, 2010 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's Hemas Holdings is considering expanding its hotels business with plans to build resorts in the south and east coasts as a post-war tourism boom gets under way, its chief executive Husein Esufally said.

The group, which now operates four hotels, has a property in Tangalle on the south coast, and wants to invest in land earmarked for resorts by the government in Trincomalee on the east coast, he said.

"We have a property in Tangalle which we're looking at developing," Esufally told LBO in an interview.

"In the east we're looking at investing in land for tourism, probably in the Trincomale area where the government has allocated land in Kuchchaveli."

Esufally said lands in the east need to be developed with basic infrastructure like water and sewage before investors go in.

Hemas now operates the Serendib hotel in Bentota and Dolphin in Waikkal, on the west coast, as well as Hotel Sigiriya, in the north-central region.

In August Hemas struck a deal with Thailand's Minor International to acquire and upgrade the Kani Lanka Resort and Spa, in Kalutara on the island's west coast, for 22 million dollars under the 'Anantara' brand.


source - www.lbo.lk