Ceylon Continental’s Christmas party gives orphans a five star experience

The Ceylon Continental Hotel Colombo hosted a ‘spend the day’ event for children from the Vajira Home orphanage in Kotte, which included a fun filled agenda of food, entertainment and activities.

“Being a part of Hayleys – Sri Lanka’s Best Corporate Citizen – we aim to do business right and look after our communities, and this pledge should be highlighted in our activities. We felt that we should take the initiative by embracing the significance of this season – a time of giving and sharing with our families and communities. I can think of no better way to kick off the season than the Christmas Party Spend the Day Event for lesser advantaged children, right here at the Hotel. It’s a great prelude to the lineup of exuberant seasonal activities leading up to and including Christmas and New Year,” Director/General Manager Upul Gamage stated.

The home is managed by Dr. Venerable Hunupolagama Vajira Shri Nayaka Thero. Known as the first Home in the country for children affected by the early stages of the island’s conflict, most of the children who live there now are orphans, directed there by the authorities.

At 10 a.m. the Continental coach transported all children from the Vajira Home in Kotte to the Hotel where welcome drinks were served. The children were then taken on a tour of the Hotel, where some of the more stimulating points of operations and scenery were pointed out.

An entertainment break was given within the Pearl Room, where Calypso music thrilled the children, engaging them in singing and dancing acts. They were treated to a magic show next. Thereafter, the Hotel provided the children the rare opportunity of going behind the scenes where they experienced an uninhibited view of the Hotel’s five star operations including the preparation of food at the Main Kitchen. Subsequently the Lunch Buffet was served at the Pearl in buffet style where Continental staff actively helped the children serve their food.

The highlighted item on the agenda was the city tour; children clambered aboard the double-decker tour bus which allowed them to explore Colombo’s various attractions, with ice cream cones in hand. This was the best part of the day for the orphans, who were overwhelmed with joy throughout the trip.

Upon their return, the children were summoned to see Santa Claus. To their delight, the resident Father Christmas gave each child a goodie bag, and posed for a photograph with the entire group.

Director/General Manager Upul Gamage, Head Human Resources at Hayleys PLC Sunil Dissanayake and Continental staff were present as gift packs of stationery items sponsored by Camlin were given to the children.

On this high note the Christmas Party ended at 5 p.m. and the coach returned the children to the home. Each child displayed a great amount of courtesy and respect to the Hotel and was enthralled with the day’s proceedings.

The Ceylon Continental Hotel is now owned and managed by the Hayleys Group. To experience all that Ceylon Continental has to offer, please call 542 1221 or visit www.ceyloncontinental.com

A diversified conglomerate whose Sri Lankan origins date back to 1878, Hayleys PLC has been adjudged the country’s Best Corporate Citizen in 2004, 2005, 2006, and most recently in 2010. The Group is extensively involved in uplifting communities through education; one of its most recent contributions to a needy community were two fully-equipped computer training centres at schools in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi.