Northward ho!
By K. M. T. Dilshani
Sri Lanka’s war-torn north is to see nearly Rs 1.3 billion worth of new tourism projects, Northern Province Tourism Association (NPTA) President, T. Y. Sunderasan told Ceylon FT.
“We (NPTA) are looking forward to the commencement of the Jetwing Yarl City hotel project which is an investment of Rs 800 million, with its construction scheduled to start in February 2013 and will hopefully be completed by 2015,” said Sunderasan, who is also the project creator, proposer and director of ‘Ashok Vatika’, sharing his views on the advancement of Northern tourism with Ceylon FT.
The 76-room luxury hotel project, with a roof-top swimming pool provides a 360-degree view of the city and is anticipated to be operational in 15 months, providing star class accommodation to visitors to the historic city of Jaffna.
“The funds will be raised partly by the former parliamentarian Milinda Moragoda-run Mercantile Merchant Bank (MMBL), while the rest of the investment will be provided by Jetwing,” added Sunderasan.
“We hope to diversify the tourism industry in the North with another project that will account for Rs 200 million of investment,” Sunderasan added.
Situated in Nallur, ‘Hotel Nallur’ is to receive financial assistance from Jaffna’s renowned Yarl Pardy establishment, and will be a property complete with 12 rooms and an additional 36 apartments.
According to him, another Rs 300 million resort having a capacity of 60 rooms, is to be initiated during 2014 and the promoters are currently looking for investors.
“Currently there are around 30 hotels operating in the North directly affiliated to the NPTA,” he added.
Following the end of 30 years of violence that dragged the country towards disaster, the North is now making vast strides towards development. With the dawn of peace, the economy of the North has started to bloom as never seen before with tourists converging on the hitherto isolated North.
“Reports show that 200,000 tourists visited the North during the month of August 2012, which in comparison with the past four years is rather high, and all indications are that there will be a tremendous increase in the number of tourists visiting the North in the near future,” said Sunderasan.
“The Northern Province could be best described as a unspoilt destination with a fine combination of national heritage and wildlife; with Mullaitivu hinterlands and the Delft islet being recognized as ideal for bird watching.”
In the Asian region, tourism has become the most promising sector likely to develop, because it has not been directly affected by the current global economic meltdown.
Source : http://www.ceylontoday.lk/22-21583-news-detail-northward-ho.html