Citrus opens after Rs. 360 m investment, takes Hikkaduwa to a new high

Citrus Hikkaduwa, the maiden venture of the Dilith Jayaweera, Varuni Amunugama Fernando and Sarwa Ameresekere trio, opened for guests last week, heralding a new experience in the popular southern coast.

Originally the 50-room Amaya Reef, following the takeover and rebranding Citrus Hikkaduwa is now a 97-room modern and up-market resort.

The first guests were a honeymoon couple from Russia Fedorov and Gracheva, who were accorded a warm Sri Lankan reception by the resort. The upgrade and expansion involved an investment of Rs. 360 million. Citrus Hikkaduwa has a new specialty restaurant called Melon Fish, which can accommodate 150 pax at one sitting, a new banquet facility capable of handling 175 pax, a new bar called Somersault, and a special beach side mobile restaurant branded Hik-Up serving unique Hikkaduwa menu.

Citrus Hikkaduwa Director and major shareholder of Diwasa Equity Dilith Jayaweera told the Daily FT that he was personally happy to have the soft opening three-days ahead of schedule and the formal opening has been scheduled for 20 January. “We are fully booked for the season,” he added. The architect for the revamp and expansion was Nishantha Munasinghe.