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Tuesday, 27 August 2019 00:41 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Sri Lanka’s largest Ferris wheel will soon make its first spin, soaking up bird’s eye views across the capital city and its suburbs.
The iconic wheel will be part of a staggering 1.5-acre entertainment zone, ‘Fantasy Island,’ which also houses a large water park and an impressive snow cave. With its ground-breaking ceremony having taken place on Friday 23 August, under the patronage of the Minister of Megapolis and Western Development Patali Champika Ranawaka, the said theme park is part of the Megapolis development plan to establish world-class recreational and entertainment facilities in close vicinity to Colombo.
With an estimated investment of $ 4.2 million in the first phase, ‘Fantasy Island’ expects to attract 1,000 visitors per day, as an integral part of the country’s dynamic drive to boost tourism earnings from around South East Asia with special focus on providing new world entertainment and adventure activities for children, youth and families.
“‘Fantasy Island’ will also provide superior entertainment and fun activities for the residents of Colombo and Sri Lanka at large,” said Waters Edge Chairman Chamath De Silva. “We have also transformed Waters Edge to be the largest entertainment and recreational hub in Colombo, everything was developed according to a plan,” he further stated.
The proposed Ferris wheel, referred to as an iconic viewing platform by industry experts, standing at 40 metres high (approximately the height of a 14-storey building) will consist of 34 capsules and can accommodate over 200 people at any given time, whilst each ride will last 20 minutes. The construction will also have special built-in capsules for the differently-abled.
The accompanying thematic water park will comprise a thrilling mix of physical and visual sensations with a height of upto 12 metres ranging from six slides, whirlwind slides and open downward spiral tunnels that set the pulse racing up to the final splashdown. Targeted specially for kids of all ages, the said adventure can accommodate up to 350 children at any given time.
Empowered by high quality German technology the snow cave offers its visitors a gentle and pleasant cool-down after thrills of the water park and the Ferris wheel. The scientifically curated room will consist of actual real snow with activities synonymous with freshly snow-covered winter landscapes around the globe. Children and adults alike will be offered a unique climate experience to be able to touch and feel real snow – within the neighbourhood of tropical Colombo.
The open terrain of the theme park will feature skateboarding and other entertainment activities complemented by the existing Diyatha Station food court, Sri Lanka’s first series of multi-cuisine restaurants based inside train carriages. A sports themed bar will also be a part of this area, along with a teen corner with a gaming arcade, pool tables and game boards, which ensures entertainment for the entire family.
“As a hospitality giant in the industry, our aim is to transform the paradigm of entertainment and recreation in the country and dominate the leisure sector with our expertise and sustainable partnerships,” commented Waters Edge Director Strategic Initiatives Enoj Muthukumarana, in view of the ground-breaking ceremony held on Friday.
“We aspire to entertain middle class families and their children and provide them with an opportunity to experience world class standards in innovative adventure, which represent the elements air, sea and land. All activities within ‘Fantasy Island’ are geared to stimulate both their physical senses and the mind,” he further stated.
Fantasy Island Ltd. is conceived and backed by the German Melchers Group out of Singapore. Melchers Group, through its Sri Lankan branch CMC Engineering, has been active in Sri Lanka for over 35 years.
‘Fantasy Island’ is 100% funded by German, Singaporean and Swiss investors with the enduring support of the BOI, Sri Lanka. “We are happy to benefit from the excellent relations between Sri Lanka and Singapore,” said Melchers Group in Singapore Director Alexander Melchers.
“We are committed to investing in the park through new attractions, infrastructure and services,” said Michael Perera, Chairman of CMC Engineering Export, the Sri Lankan office of the Melchers Group.
“With world class, new, quality-assured equipment exclusively from European suppliers, the park will set new standards for a family entertainment centre. Equipped with all-around CCTV monitoring devices, the high-tech machines are well maintained, whilst ensuring highest in safety standards. The park which combines local expertise with international entertainment experience from projects such as Singapore Flyer and Sky Tower in its development and operations, would also create over 60 employment and career development opportunities for the community,” Perera further explained.
Strategically demarcated as a zone of sheer entertainment and recreation, ‘Fantasy Island’ will be managed Fantasy Island Ltd. and supported by Waters Edge through a long-term private partnership. The theme park, which will open its doors in December 2020 or before, also empowers the city development endeavours earmarked by the Megapolis development plan and will elevate the country with recreational standards to be in par with world leaders in entertainment.
