Kalpitiya Integrated Tourism Resort Project is one of the biggest tourist projects undertaken by the Government to promote tourism in the country. Luxury villas are to be built in the fourteen Virgin Islands in Kalpitiya region.
More than 100 hectares of land in Kalpitiya have been vested in the Kalpitiya integrated Tourism Resort project consists of Ayurveda Spas, recreational centers, a helipad etc. The helipad facilitates airlifting tourists from other parts of the country. Another important aspect is that the natives of Bathalangunduwa and fishermen who live in the adjacent areas will not be displaced.
The natives to be integrated will be the stakeholders of the hotel project. Meanwhile, the Kalpitiya Integrated Tourism Project is expected to rake in four billion US dollars from the potential investors.
Another tourist attraction is the sighting of Whales and Dolphins in the seas around Kalpitiya and the indigenous mangroves found in abundance. Twenty-three varieties of indigenous mangroves that protect the beach are also the food for the fish found aplenty in the sea.
The area is also a resting place for seventy-five varieties of migratory birds on their way to Anawilundawa bird sanctuary in Wilpattu. There are 500 fishing families who live in Bathalangunduwa. The oldest Dutch church in the country is found in the Nochimuni.
Project Director, Navaratne, said the Kalpitiya will be marketed as a tourist destination well known for its beach, recreational activities, diving, water sports, and for wildlife tourism as well. The biggest coral reef stretching up to 30 kilometres is also found in Kalpitiya.
Although the areas bordering the Wilpattu wildlife sanctuary were not accessible previously due to terrorist activities, the Wilpattu wild life sanctuary has now been re-opened to the public. The Tourism Development Authority has also decided to draft a bio-diversity plan to protect the environment.
The KITRP has selected two investors for Wellai and Ibnathiev islands to set up villas there.
A Swiss, a Singaporean and an Indian investor will invest around US Dollars 1.75 billion to set up five star villas in the two islands. They have agreed to provide a financial package of Rs. 100 million to uplift the living standards of the natives in the Bathalangunduwa and Nochimuni areas. A consolidated fund will be set up shortly to disburse these funds.
In view of the scarcity of water and power a desalination plant and a solar power plant will be set up in the villa complex, the project director said.
Meanwhile, the Tourism Development Authority (TDA) will evaluate tenders called for the KalpitiyaIntegrated Tourism Resort Project (KITRP) shortly.
The project expected to be completed in three years will generate direct employment to 15,000-20,000 and indirect employment to 50,000 persons.
Source : http://www.development.lk/project_detail-1a–10.html
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