Sri Lanka’s first 7-star luxury hotel Aviyana with Rs. 10 b investment set to open in March

Aviyana Chairman Dr. Thisara Hewawasam addresses launch. Others (from left): Aviyana Director – Operations Shezad Hameed, COO Thakshila Nadeeshani, and CEO Kavinda Abeyrathne – Pic by Upul Abayasekara   

By Uma Chandrasiri

Aviyana, a melodic Indian name implies ‘bird’ or ‘heaven’ and going by the logo of this magnificent group of villas and their concept of exceptional service, it is an apt appellative.

Aviyana Ceylon will launch in part, with approximately 10-15 chalets out of a total of 60 by March 2025 as the world’s eighth 7-star luxury hotel, offering investors full or partial ownership of these exclusive chalets.

With a total investment of Rs.10 billion, Aviyana’s construction under the expertise of architect Muditha Perera is currently 70% completed.

The visionary behind Aviyana, Dr. Thisara Hewawasam’s dream was to build a hotel sans foreign investment to keep the returns within the island nation. Their tag line “Aviyana - For a National Cause” encapsulates this and their ambitious Chairman Dr. Hewawasam aims to bring in $ 500 million to the country next year. “Approximately 2 billion people out of the world’s population of 8 billion travel the world, spending trillions of dollars and Aviyana will surely bring in a spiral of high-end discerning travellers to Sri Lanka.”

The remaining chalets at Aviyana will be sold to investors, starting from 10 million to 250 million with two different investment options. The group guarantees an annual 20% return on rental income to the investors, along with free maintenance, the use of common facilities at no charge and a 50% reduction in common activity charges and restaurant bills. 

The common facilities at Aviyana are the 24 acres of land, of which only 12 are utilized for the chalets and the entertainment areas, 100x30 foot natural infinity pool, club house, gym and spa, artificial lake, organic farm and spice garden, world class restaurant and bar, conference hall, state-of-the-art movie theatre and helipad. Guests can enjoy exciting adventures such as paragliding, a sky walk, bungee jumping, rafting, Knuckles safari to more sedate hiking and trekking to serene and peaceful yoga and meditation sessions.

The chalets are strategically built atop the summit of Kandy, overlooking the Knuckles Mountain Range, a UNESCO world heritage site. Surrounded by the majestic Piduruthalagala mountains, the verdant and picturesque Hanthana and Nelligala forests and Nuwara Eliya and fed with the pure waters of Galmal oya and Heel oya, Aiyana offers experiences that transcend the ordinary. According to a report by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IEER), Aviyana’s property has over 1200 naturally grown medicinal trees that infuse the air with purity and restorative properties.

“Aviyana is a celebration of Sri Lanka’s natural splendour and rich cultural heritage. Meticulous design, cutting-edge security, and diverse recreational offerings converge to create an unparalleled experience. This pursuit of perfection has garnered Aviyana multiple prestigious awards, establishing it as a leading light in Sri Lanka’s luxury landscape” says Aviyana’s Chief Executive Officer Kavinda Abeyrathne.

Aviyana’s management of seasoned professionals in the hospitality industry ensures hassle free ownership for the investors and their strategic partnerships with leading travel companies worldwide guarantees maximum exposure, promising a lucrative return on investment for property owners. 

Aviyana has ventured into an exclusive partnership with the Al Nahyan Royal family of Abu Dhabi, a prominent and influential dynasty in the United Arab Emirates with HH Sheikh Muhammad Khalifa Sultan Shakbout Al-Nehayan of UAE as a member. “The Royal family is helping us market Aviyana overseas targeting high-net-worth customers,” adds Kavinda.

This wondrous property was also awarded the “Best investment hotel project in Sri Lanka” by the Global Consortium of Science and Technology last year. Continuing their global reach, Aviyana was the principal sponsor of the Sri Lanka Trade Fair in Dubai 2024, held at the Crowne Plaza, Deira, on 2 and 3 November. This prestigious event served as the ideal platform for Aviyana to engage with the distinguished Sri Lankan expatriate community in the UAE and beyond.

Adding to all this glory as a feather in Aviyana’s cap will be Kasper Kurdahl, a distinguished Danish chef with over 27 years of expertise in the fine dining sector, who will join the team as a Michelin-star culinary consultant, aiming to uphold and enhance the establishment’s seven-star standards. His extensive international experience spans New York, Italy, Spain, Japan, France, and Germany, showcasing his versatility and global culinary perspective. Even though Aviyana’s guests may be pleasantly surprised with gem studded cutlery and gold infused teas, they will also experience restorative dining experiences as Aviyana’s chefs will ensure that they keep the authentic Sri Lankan food culture alive, highlighting our time-tested spices, herbs and fresh local produce.

Yet another factor that shows the extent to which the Aviyana team will focus on, to ensure customer delight, is the list of 40 questions that will be posed to each guest pre arrival as a means of discovering a guest’s favourites such as food, book/s, aroma, colour, movie etc. And depending on the responses, the team will decide on a specialized menu for starters and even scent the room with a favourite aroma.