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Mandara Hotels and Resorts Chairman and Managing Director Sagara Palihawadana with Mandara Group of Hotels Chief Executive Officer Lal Dissanayake
In a bid to meet the growing demand, Mandara Resorts, Weligama will add 20 rooms to its river side wing by the end of the year. Mandara Hotels and Resorts Chairman and Managing Director Sagara Palihawadana said in addition they will also build a second swimming pool to their river side wing. He said that last three months, despite the coronavirus issues, the property was mainlining 95% occupancy.
“The main market was from Europe and CIS countries and we expect this trend to increase next year with the return of Chinese travellers. To meet this growing demand we want to build 20 additional rooms in the hotel’s river side wing for which the land is already available. The total investment would be around Rs. 250 million.” In a bid to add more luxury to the property, the present Madara Resorts Ayurveda Spa too would be refurbished and converted to a Balinese Spa.
The four star plus Mandara Weligama currently offers 29 standard DBL rooms, 17 standard DBL rooms (lagoon/river view) four superior rooms with private plunge pools and 12 deluxe rooms with jacuzzi.
Meanwhile Lal Dissanayake who re-joined Mandara Group of Hotels as Chief Executive Officer from January 2020 said that in a bid to introduce more entertainment option the management will also introduce a river safari package at Mandara Resort Weligama.
“We hope to invest on a new 50 seater boat which could also offer guest dining facilities.”
He said that the hotel also has a 350 guest capacity banquet hall making it a popular venue for weddings and MICE as well. Dissanayake with over 25 years’ experience in the hospitality industry has also worked for 10 years in various roles in international five-star chain hotels in Germany, Australia, Dubai and North Yemen.
Mandara Hotel Acting Manager Kamal Gunasekerara said that the hotel also arranges whale watching tours and excursions to many nearby attractions. He also said that the newly introduced sea food restaurant with has both indoor and outdoor dining, bar and mini night club is also gaining in popularity. “We also under take candle lit dinners, weddings in the beach which is sans minus any beach boys.”
The large beach area with the lagoon on one side also makes the venue for beach and water sports activists as well.
The state-of-the-art fitness centre at Mandara Resort open from early morning until late in the night, offers the latest fitness equipment including treadmills, dumbbells of various weights, recumbent bikes and cross trainers. The hotel also deploys services of life guards and has 24 hour security services. The hotel also has sports facilities such as indoor and outdoor games such as cricket, beach volleyball, beach football, carom, badminton, card games. All rooms have A/C hotel and cold water, tea/coffee making facilities, safety lockers, mini bar, free Wi-Fi in and cable TV.
