SLTDA approves Bolagala Floating Agro Tourism Resort in Katana

The Bolagala Floating Agro Tourism Resort

The Bolagala Floating Agro Tourism Resort in Katana located close to the Negombo tourism hub will be the newest addition to the inventory of unique experiences for tourists visiting Sri Lanka. 

This is the first-ever floating resort in Sri Lanka created adopting an agro-tourism theme and consists of 50 floating cabanas, including 10 GPS tracker equipped cabanas that could freely move around the picturesque lake giving visitors an exceptional experience: floating swimming pool, floating restaurant, main restaurant, pub and karaoke lounge, underwater spa, gym are the main components of the project. 

In addition, a combination of experiences is offered to tourists catering to diverse tour expectations such as watersports, organic greenhouses, bicycle and jogging tracks, fishing, tennis court and the electric car experience. This sustainable tourism venture introduces the organic farming concept where the tourists are allowed to have hands-on experience of farming in Sri Lanka. This is the first time the organic farming concept is put into use in the Negombo area.

“Sustainable and eco-friendly products are the future for tourism particularly post COVID-19 and we look to the industry to be innovative and create unique experiences such as this project,” said Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando. She thanked all the Government agencies for their collaboration in granting approvals for a challenging project of this nature understanding the value of the project for the tourism industry in Sri Lanka.  Project proponent Kelum Perera is a Sri Lankan entrepreneur who succeeded in realising his dream of converting abandoned clay mining pits filled with rainwater into a sustainable tourism project. Seeing the environmental devastation left by clay miners with deeply dug out land spaces that could not be used for any other purpose, Perera started an initiative to convert 13 acres to an agro and aquaculture tourist resort to restore the natural ecosystem and the scenic beauty which was once destroyed due to human activities. 

The project is planned to be completed in two stages: 1st stage, completion of three suite rooms, 27 deluxe rooms, three GPS movable rooms, a floating swimming pool and a restaurant; 2nd stage: rest of the cabanas with the underwater spa and the other activity-based components. The underwater spa is a unique feature incorporated into this project with four spa rooms (completely underwater), each room with a 4’x6’ underwater viewing glass providing the opportunity to enjoy underwater aquaculture while enjoying spa facilities.  The project target is to cater to the high-end tourist segment charging above $ 400 per night from mainly European countries. Representatives from international tour operators from Germany, France, UK and Italy have already visited the site to check hotel standards and quality to market to their clientele. Middle East market is also targeted in future. 

The first stage of the project is already completed and will be opening in June which Sri Lanka Tourism assumes will surely be a perfect match to the post-COVID-19 tourism demand.