Luxury Reef’s Edge opens in Uswetakeiyawa

Rs. 600 m 23-roomed hotel opens in close proximity to airport and Colombo

By David Ebert

Edge Leisure Holdings, the newest entrant into the small luxury hotel sector, launched its first property – the 23-room luxury Reef’s Edge in Uswetakeiyawa, Wattala – which was declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Wickramasinghe Rajapaksa. Built at a cost of Rs. 600 million, the hotel’s interior design concepts were the brainchild of internationally-acclaimed Aedas Interiors of Singapore, designers of the famed Marina Bay Sands Singapore, while the architectural designs were by KWA Architects of Sri Lanka. Located just a short 10 minute commute from the airport and 30 minutes from Colombo, the hotel also boasts a 250 pax banquet hall named the ‘Grand Ark’ housed as a separate facility, and hence looks to attract a mix of both tourists as well as corporate clientele.

Apart from housing a well-equipped gymnasium, a spa by Sri Lanka’s leading luxury ayurveda beauty and wellness specialist – Spa Ceylon and a picturesque infinity pool on the second floor, the hotel also boasts a specialty restaurant and two bars. The company in a statement said that the shareholders are very positive and excited about the future of the island and are going ahead with planned development of hotels in other scenic locations around the country: ‘Lake’s Edge’ in Nuwara Eliya – a 36-roomed hotel overlooking Lake Gregory, ‘Coral’s Edge’ in Ambalangoda – a 34-roomed hotel on the beautiful southern beach, and ‘Kingdom’s Edge’ – a 40-roomed hotel in Sigiriya within the next 18 to 24 months, with all properties headed by 30-year veteran hotelier Upul Gamage as Director/GM.

Edge Leisure Holdings Chairman Gratiaen Gunawardena told the Daily FT that with this being his first foray into the leisure industry, having been an exporter of industrial gloves, he believes that with the peaceful environment in the country it is the right time for the country to develop itself in terms of superior tourism offerings. Gunawardena revealed that the company plans to expand the facilities on the property to include a large outdoor area with a swimming pool and marquees that can accommodate up to 500 people for corporate outings and get-togethers. Reef’s Edge Director/GM Upul Gamage, speaking on the hotel’s uniqueness revealed: “A lot of thought and detailed planning went into the design phase of Reef’s Edge. This stretch of beach along this part of the coast is fronted by a sand bank and hence we had to take into consideration these aspects as well. Thus, as you can see the hotel’s restaurants and pool deck have been designed at an elevated height in order to preserve the view.”

He added that he is confident that the hotel will be able to make a difference in terms of its offerings with a continued focus on developing its service levels and improving its overall offerings in the near future.