80-villa luxury resort in Kalpitiya
Sri Lanka's biggest Tourism development project, Kalpitiya Tourism promotion zone, took off the ground when 'Dutch Bay Resorts' laid the foundation stone for an 80-villa luxury resort in Kalpitiya, recently.
One of the leading hotel chains in the world, Six Senses Group has come for ward to manage this property which would be one of Sri Lanka's most expensive hotels stamping investor confidence for the industry. Dutch Bay Resorts would be investing US $ 175 million for the project with $ 75 million being invested for the phase one which includes the construction of 75 luxury boutique chalets. In addition the property would include a Spa Club, Floating Restaurants and a helipad where tourists could land after touching at the Colombo Air port.
Chairman, Dutch Bay Resorts, Neil De Silva said that with the war ending Sri Lanka is being converted to an upmarket destination where high spending tourists would patronise it. "This is why we are investing in this project," he said.
He also said that due to terrorism Sri Lanka lost many opportunities
that went to Male, Thailand, Mauritius and other neighbouring
countries. Kalpitiya Zone would now attract more investors", he
predicted.
He said that while attracting high spending tourists they would also
encourage the concept make 'Sri Lanka your second home' specially among
the Arabs.” What we are promoting to the Arabs is that they buy a Villa
in Kalpitiya and use it as and when they need it," he said.
He also said that top hotels in the world hire Sri Lanka staff as they
are of very high standard they too would employ over 90 percent locals.
He said that one of the unique features of Kalpitiya is that it is one
of the most beautiful coastal areas in the North Western Province and
it is not polluted and they want to keep it that way. "We will also get
the community involved in the project and one objective is to give
wealth to them," he said.
Minister of investment Promotion, Naveen Dissanayake said that the fact
that leading hotel chains like Six Senses coming to Sri Lanka proves
the investor confidence they have for the country.
The Chairman of SLTDA Mr. Bernard Goonetilleke an also participated for this event.
Placed 150 km north of the capital, Colombo, the Kalpitiya region is one of the most beautiful coastal areas located in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. Kalpitiya is a peninsular that separates the Puttalam lagoon from the Indian Ocean and is a marine sanctuary with a diversity of habitats ranging from bar reefs, flat coastal plains, saltpans, mangroves swamps, salt marshes and vast sand dune beaches.
Given the investment opportunities available, in 2008 the Sri Lanka Tourism launched the Kalpitiya Dutch Bay Resort Development Project.
Proposed zone situated at Kalpitiya in the Puttalam District of North Western Province,Sri Lanka.
There are 14 Island in the proposed zone as listed below.
No. Name of Island Total Extent
1. Battalangunduwa 145.53 ha
2. Palliyawatta 60.89 ha
3. Vellai I 1.55 ha
4. Vellai II 10.80 ha
5. Vellai III 13.70 ha
6. Uchchamunai 449.30 ha
7. Ippantivu 76.88 ha
8. Periya Arichchalai 45.60 ha
9. Sinna Arichchalai 16.82 ha
10. Eramutivu 101.52 ha
11. Sinna Eramutivu 2.22 ha
12. Eramutivu West 4.53 ha
13. Kakativu 4.53 ha
14. Mutwal(Dutch Bay) 715.14 ha
Total Area 1672.67 ha
(4133.19 acs)
Out of the 14 Islands 09 Islands as indicated below are totally state Lands and other 5 islands are comprised with private & state land
State Lands Area No. Extent (ha)
1. Battalangunduwa 1 145.53
2. Vellai I 3 1.55
3. Vellai II 4 10.80
4. Vellai III 5 13.7
5. Periya Arichchalai 8 45.6
6. Sinna Arichchalai 9 16.82
7. Sinna Eramutivu 11 2.22
8. Eramutivu West 12 4.53
9. Kakativu 13 28.19
Total Area 268.94
Tourist Attractions Within The Zone
- Near Islands at Dutch Bay & Portugal Bay
- Bar Reef Marine Sanctuary- 307 km2 of Sea having most valuable rich Bio-Diversity Value
- Sea Turtles
- Fisheries
- Ornamental fish collection
- Lobster capturing
- Sea Cucumber Collection
- Dolphins
- Whales
- Mangroves
- Flora and Fauna
- Historical Monuments
- Birds & Butterflies
- Natural Botanical Gardens.
- Beaches
- Natural Forest
- Estuaries & Lagoons
- Sea grass beds
Tourist Attractions Within 50 Km Distance
Wilpattu Sanctuary
Historical Dutch Fort & Church
Anuradhapura - Ancient City
St.Anne's Church- Thalawila
Proposed Types of Tourism for the Development Zone
Fishing Tourism
Deep Sea Diving
Nature Based Tourism
Beach Tourism
Sport & Adventure Tourism
Agro Tourism
Culture Tourism
Village Tourism
Event Tourism
Regulation And Other Requirement Of Relevant Agencies
Strategic Environmental Impact Assessments Study will be carried out at the inception of the project as a planning mechanism to avoid any restrictions on constructions at later stagers and to obtain blanket approval for all the components of the overall development.
However, Adequate setbacks had to be maintained as per the Regulations of the Coastal Conservation Department. The rules and regulations of the Urban Development Authority, Local Authority, Wild Life Development, Archaeological Department, Irrigation Department, Fisheries Department and Forest Department to be compiled with. Sri Lanka Tourist Board, Sri Lanka Cricket Board, Civil Aviation Department, Fisheries Harbour Cooperation, Ministry of Sport, Ceylon Government Railway criteria to be satisfied in all specialised constructions.
Following Investment Opportunities will be available at the Proposed Tourism Area
Luxury accommodation units to attract up-market Tourists
Hotels, Chalets, Water Bungalows, Aurvedic Hotels, Beach Cabanas, Sun Huts, Out Door Barbeque pits, Open Air Performance Areas
Low Cost accommodation units for Budget Travelers
Domestic Airport & Travels
Theme / Amusement Parks
Underwater Amusement Park
Cable Car Tours
High Speed Boat Safaris
Water Sports
Golf Course - 18 Hole
Observation Towers
Camping Sites
Training Schools- Tourism & Hotel Management
• Diving
• Water Sports
Botanical Gardens
Agro & Livestock Farms
Hot Air Balloon Transports
Hospital
Race Course
Cricket Playground
Travel & Tour Operators
Handicrafts & Souvenir Shops
Gem & Jeweler Shops
Information & Interpretation Centers
Museum
Cultural, Art, Entertainment Centers
Infrastructure Facilities
Standard of the present Infrastructure facilities to Islands and to the proposed resort area are either at a very low level or in adequate. There for it is imperative that new facilities are to be developed to meet the present day standard and recumbents of the resort. In this context Sri Lanka Tourist Board will work hand in hand with the Privet sector and Government to provide the necessary facilities on priority basis as the overall developments demands.
Battalangunduwa:
Foot pathways, Cycling Routes, Helipad, Sea Flight Port , Jetties, Electricity, Water, Drainage, Telecommunication, Solid & Liquid Disposal Systems.
Palliyawatta:
Foot Pathways, Cycling Routes, Helipad, Sea Flight Port, Jetties, Electricity, Water, Drainage, Telecommunication, Solid & Liquid Disposal System.
Ippantivu:
Foot Pathways, Nature Trails, Cycling Routes, Sea Flight Port , Jetties, Electricity, Water, Drainage, Telecommunication, Solid & Liquid Disposal system.
Periya Arichchalai:
Foot Pathways, Nature Trails, Sea Flight Port, Jetties, Electricity, Water, Drainage, Telecommunication, Solid & Liquid Disposal System
Eramutivu:
Foot Pathways, Nature Trails, Sea Flight Port, Jetties, Electricity, Water, Drainage, Telecommunication, Solid & Liquid Disposal System.
Mutwal (Dutch Bay ):
Roads, Pedestrian Pathways, Cycling Routes, Nature Trails, Jetties, Railways, Electricity, Water, Drainage, Telecommunication, Solid & Liquid Disposal System.
Special Developments in the Zone
Domestic Air Port - Uchchamunai
Under Water Amusement Park - Kandakkuliya
Golf Course - Dutch Bay
Race Course - Kalpitiya
Cricket Playground - Kalpitiya
Alternatives Available for Provision of Infrastructure Facilities
Water
Desalination and Water Provision Methodology will be introduced to the Hotel Industries at Kalpitiya Islands .
Purify fresh water will be provide to the Development Islands and The Kalpitiya Town from the Water supply Project at Kala Oya – River mouth at Gangewadiya Village.
Electricity
All Developers will be Encourage to Use Separate Generators to supply of Electricity for their Hotel Industries.
Photovoltaic- Wind Energy-Energy from Biomass Systems will be introduced to the Community and Other industries.
Hydropower Electricity Supply Provide by Ceylon Electricity Board will be supplied to the Development Islands from the Proposed Electricity Supply System from Eluwankulama Town
Under Ground Cabling
Cabling to Supply Electricity will be run Under Ground to Enhance the Visual appearance at Development Islands .
Under Water Cabling
System of Under Ground Cabling will be used to supply Electricity to the proposed Development Islands from the Substation at Gangevadiya Village .
Telecommunication
System of Under Ground Cabling will be Introduce to Supply Telecommunication facilities With the Sri Lanka Telecom for the Proposed Developing Islands .
Disposal of Solid waste
Hygienic Collection and Storage facilities, preferably with Separation for Re-Cycling will be introduced to the Proposed Developing Islands .
Disposal of Liquid waste
Treatment plants will be use to Purify the Liquid waste and to release the effluents to Central Environmental Authority Standards.
Disposal of Sewage
Individual Sewage systems of Hotels will be linked to the Proposed Main Sewage Systems to ProduceEffluent to Central Environmental Authority Standards.
Chairman (Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority)
Kalpitiya Integrated Tourism Resort Project.
No: 80, Galle Road
Colombo 03.
Sri Lanka.
Mr.Prasad Galhana
Project Director
Email : prasadx@sltnet.lk
Mr.T.Sooriyagoda
Additional Project Director
Direct Tel : +94 11 2440009
Gen : 0112 437059/60 ext. 215 Fax: 2382622
Mobile : +94 77 3039055
Email : soori@srilanka.travel
Mr. W.Chandrasiri
Project Engineer
Direct Tel : +94 11 2440009
Gen : 0112 437059/60 ext. 306 Fax: 2382622
Mobile : +94 0712801063
Email : chandrasiriw@sltda.gov.lk