[Gamarala]

​

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 islands in the proposed zone as listed below.

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 are totally state Lands and other 5 islands are comprised with private & state land

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 stages 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

http://www.sltda.lk/kalpitiya​

 

[Fusionist]

great initiative, I have always wondered why this region was not developed for tourism as it is a natural beauty ! If developed it might be one of the top tourist spots in the country !

I am concerned about implementation though, as the plans seem to be very grand..

 

[phil.froelich]

Yeah, as usual very nice and ambitious plans, but implementation is the massive question mark here...I wonder how many years or even decades this project will need to be completed...but you never know...

 

[Amal]

Sri Lanka luxury resort developers to raise equity

Sept 10, 2009 (LBO) – Developers of a luxury island resort managed by the Six Senses chain in Sri Lanka who have set up an investment fund will seek to raise further cash through a private share offering, an official said.
Neil De Silva, chairman of Dutch Bay Resorts which is to build the resort in north-western Kalpitiya, said investors can get returns from the first phase resort project as well as sale of luxury villas to wealthy clients in the second phase.

The resort project has been given a 15-year tax holiday from the Board of Investment and other incentives usually given to big projects by the investment promotion agency.

The six-star Dutch Bay Resort project, to be ready by 2011, is a joint venture between Six Senses and Swarna Dweep, an investment vehicle.

Swarna Dweep, set up by European investors and De Silva, a Sri Lankan entrepreneur, currently operating in Europe and the Middle East, has a 51 percent stake in Dutch Bay Resorts.

“Sri Lanka has been a missed opportunity,” De Silva said. “Now, with the war over, we’d like to better use this opportunity and bring in foreign friends and Sri Lankans overseas for equity investments.”

The island’s tourism sector is expected to boom with the end of the 30-year ethnic war in May when government forces defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels.

De Silva said he and his partners have already invested 36 million dollars in the project and seek to raise more funds through a private placement with other luxury property developments also planned.

“We will initially offer to friends and families and later call for public offers,” De Silva said.

“For Sri Lankan investors, the subscription amount is a minimum of 5,000 dollars.”

Investors can repatriate earnings which are tax free.

The investment, which will be locked in for a seven year construction and take-off period, is expected to generate a rate of return of 20-27 percent a year, de Silva said.

Earnings will be from operation of the Six Senes resort as well as sale of luxury villas.

The first phase of the project in Dutch Bay, off the north-west coast, will cost 75 million dollars and consists of 60 mangrove chalets – two-storey villas with plunge pools – and 20 luxury villas on the lagoon.

The second phase of the project, costing 100 million dollars, will consist of 80 villas, meant to be sold as luxury holiday or retirement homes to wealthy Arabs, Europeans and Sri Lankans.

FULL STORY: http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?nid=1670839273


Rs.40 bn mega project to allure tourist “senses”

Sri Lanka Tourism to target high and up-market luxury resorts

(L-R) Chairman of Dutch Bay Resorts, Neil De Silva, Minster of Investment Promotion, Navin Dissanayake and Minister of Tourism Promotion, Faizer Mustapha. Pic by Kithsiri De Mel

By Cheranka Mendis

Sri Lanka Tourism is set to undertake its first post war mega project worth Rs.40 billion by an internationally reputed chain of hotels, Six Senses.

Spanning 1600 hectares, the proposed luxury resort will include a premium leisure and spa club, floating restaurants and even a helipad. This venture will also offer jobs to some 100,000 persons and would increase threefold the country’s earnings on tourism.

The absence of such internationally acclaimed hotel chains in Colombo has posed a major setback to Sri Lanka’s tourism trade in the past.

However, this is about to change for Sri Lanka with the Six Senses hotel chain coming on board to open up a luxurious boutique resort at Dutch Bay, Kalpitiya.

Coming at an opportune time, the resort will house 60 mangrove boutique chalets located on inland water bodies. This is a joint venture between Six Senses and Swarna Dweep.

Hotel chains such as the Meridian, Ramada and Marriott have in the past all left the island, seeking greener pastures. A few airlines, namely British Airways and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, have also followed suit.This has led to a loss in international participation which has negatively affected the tourist trade. Currently, Hilton is the only international hotel chain with a presence in Sri Lanka.

The price range of the new hotel would start at USD 350 for smaller chalets while larger villas will cost approximately USD 800-1000, said Chairman of Dutch Bay Resorts, Neil de Silva. “We hope to have a 40% occupancy rate and if it increases we hope to increase the cost of smaller chalets to approximately USD 500.”

FULL STORY: http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=60970

 

[Amal]

'Six Star Hotel' in Sri Lanka ready by 2011

Sat, Sep 12, 2009, 09:20 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Sept 12, Colombo: Sri Lanka has commenced a project to build the first ever 'Six Star Hotel' in the country's north western coast.

The laying of the foundation stone for the tourist hotel took place recently at the Dutch Bay Island of Kalpitiya in north western Sri Lanka under the patronage of Minister of Investment Promotion, Naveen Dissanayake.

The eco-friendly hotel with 420 suites is a joint venture between Sri Lanka and Bahrain. The project is estimated to cost US$130 million. The Hotel is expected to accommodate tourist by November 2011.

After the successful conclusion of the three-decade long ethnic war, Sri Lanka is anticipating a heavy influx of tourists in the near future and according to the tourism officials, the country needs more hotel accommodations.

The Tourism Ministry has declared Kalpitiya in the country's north western coast, which has 14 islands as a Tourist Resort under the Kalpitiya Integrated Tourism Development Project (KITRP).

Kalpitiya, the stretch of land planked between the sea on one side and the lagoon on the other side, and the nearby islets in the Puttalam District will be developed under the KITRP as a major tourist destination similar to Bali in Indonesia, according to tourism officials.

The tourists have the opportunity of viewing the coral formations found in shallow waters in varied colours and forms that span about 400 square km near the islets and exotic tropical fish. Dolphin watching without sailing into deep seas is another major attraction in the area.

http://www.colombopage.com/archive_091/Sep1252770643CH.html

 

[Amal]

80-villa luxury resort in Kalpitiya

by Shirajiv SIRIMANE

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 forward 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 Airport.

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.


FULL STORY: http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2009/09/13/new32.asp

 

[Amal]

6903063


Kalpitiya dolphins (pics by Asiya.31, flickr)

Around Kalpitiya (pics by Upali Mallikarachchi)

 

[Fusionist]

^^ some great photos there :cheers:

 

[PCK]

i'd love to go see those Dolphins pretty soon! and i heard and seen pics of Blue whale sighting tours near Mirissa? have any pics of that amal?

 

[Amal]

i'd love to go see those Dolphins pretty soon! and i heard and seen pics of Blue whale sighting tours near Mirissa? have any pics of that amal?

Will post them if I come across any.. :cheers:

 

[PCK]

me and a group of friends are planning on going to kalpitiya in about 2 weeks, any recommendations on where to stay?

 

[Amal]

 

[FazilLanka]

Kalpitiya, a great fun place to be in a few years time. I

 

[Chariya]

Kalpitiya Tourism Zone lease agreements:
Two hotels for Rs 3.9 billion

Harshini PERERA

The land leasing agreements of two projects under the Kalpitiya Integrated Tourism Resort program will be signed between investors and the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority this week.


Eight projects will be implemented under the Kalpitiya Integrated Tourism Resort program. File photo

The investment value of these projects will be Rs 1.2 billion and Rs 1.7 billion respectively.

Eight projects will be implemented under the Kalpitiya Integrated Tourism Resort program.

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority will provide the land for these projects under leasing agreements. It is expected that these leasing agreements will generate Rs 80 million revenue to the Government. These projects are given on 30 years lease and the revenue includes 30 years lease as well as the monthly rental of Rs 2800 per perch for a month, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Additional Project Director, Tissa Sooriyagoda told Daily News Business.

“Both these new projects are set up to cater to the needs of the tourists with five star facilities and the room rate will be over US $ 250,” he said.

The hotels will be constructed in an environmental friendly manner in the Kalpitiya zone. It is expected to have around one million tourists and over 5000 hotel rooms in Kalpitiya after the completion of the Integrated Tourism Resort program.

The tourism industry will benefit in two ways by the development of the tourist resorts in Kalpitiya. It is by increasing the number of stays and the average spending of tourists in Sri Lanka.

“We are in the process of constructing mockup rooms for the two projects. Mockup rooms are those that demonstrate the nature of the rooms after the construction of hotels. It is expected to start the projects by mid next month after the signing of agreements,” Sooriyagoda said.

Another project has received Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) clearance for a 200 roomed hotel in Kalpitiya.

Named as Dutch Bay Resort the investment has been directed from Bahrain. The project value is Rs 2 billion. It is expected to start construction on November 11 in 2011.

DN

 

[Fusionist]

some views on the scenic location..

this pleace if developpedproperly can attract some high end tourists very easily. A little bit of Maldives in Sri Lanka :cheers:

 

[Chariya]

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.

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority

 

[Shakeel]

Is this for Real

I doubt this project ever got off ground. If so, please prvide designs and plans.

'Six Star Hotel' in Sri Lanka ready by 2011

Sat, Sep 12, 2009, 09:20 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Sept 12, Colombo: Sri Lanka has commenced a project to build the first ever 'Six Star Hotel' in the country's north western coast.

The laying of the foundation stone for the tourist hotel took place recently at the Dutch Bay Island of Kalpitiya in north western Sri Lanka under the patronage of Minister of Investment Promotion, Naveen Dissanayake.

The eco-friendly hotel with 420 suites is a joint venture between Sri Lanka and Bahrain. The project is estimated to cost US$130 million. The Hotel is expected to accommodate tourist by November 2011.

After the successful conclusion of the three-decade long ethnic war, Sri Lanka is anticipating a heavy influx of tourists in the near future and according to the tourism officials, the country needs more hotel accommodations.

The Tourism Ministry has declared Kalpitiya in the country's north western coast, which has 14 islands as a Tourist Resort under the Kalpitiya Integrated Tourism Development Project (KITRP).

Kalpitiya, the stretch of land planked between the sea on one side and the lagoon on the other side, and the nearby islets in the Puttalam District will be developed under the KITRP as a major tourist destination similar to Bali in Indonesia, according to tourism officials.

The tourists have the opportunity of viewing the coral formations found in shallow waters in varied colours and forms that span about 400 square km near the islets and exotic tropical fish. Dolphin watching without sailing into deep seas is another major attraction in the area.

http://www.colombopage.com/archive_091/Sep1252770643CH.html

 

[saraprobe]

Dilith-Varuni duo gets more bullish on post-war tourism

I doubt this project ever got off ground. If so, please prvide designs and plans.

Citrus Leisure PLC, formerly Hotel Reefcomber PLC, has marked its name change with an announcement to build a four star resort in Kalpitiya following the acquisition of 78 acres of land identified as ‘Santhoduwa-Kalpitiya’.
The total investment in the land amounted to Rs. 122.18 million. The acquisition is the company’s second following a change in management earlier this year. Emagewise Ltd., a private venture of Triad Advertising fame Dilith Jayaweera and Varuni Amunugama Fernando, is the controlling shareholder of Citrus Leisure.
The proposed resort will comprise of 150 rooms and 28 water front villas. The villas will be built facing a 50 meter-wide waterway, which cuts through the land and connects at the end to the sea. These exclusive villas will have individual gondolas, providing the occupants access to the sea.
In a unique proposition, the villas will be made available to local and foreign high net worth individuals on the basis of a 99-year lease. Citrus Leisure will operate the villas as part of the hotel with the concurrence of their owners, managing and marketing them accordingly.

The ‘Santhoduwa-Kalpitiya’ site is ideally placed in close proximity to the whale- and dolphin-watching sites in the seas off Kalpitiya and the magnificent Wilpattu National Park, home to the elephant and the elusive Ceylon leopard. The company believes the proposed resort will cater to the growing demand for suitable star class accommodation along the north west coast of Sri Lanka.
Chairman of Citrus Leisure, tourism-veteran Prema Cooray, said: “Our decision to enter Kalpitiya is a strategic one that considers the area’s vast untapped potential to become a tourist hotspot. Kalpitiya is one of the zones being targeted in the Government’s new vision for tourism and Citrus Leisure is excited to be a flag-bearer in the emergence of destination Kalpitiya.”
Renowned architect Murad Ismail has come on board to design the resort, bringing with him his extensive experience in designing world-class properties, including the prestigious Four Seasons Hotel in the Maldives.
The purchase of the ‘Santhoduwa-Kalpitiya’ land is the company’s second major acquisition following its purchase of a 7.2 acre beach property in Waskaduwa, where construction will begin in early 2011 on a 150 roomed 4-star property.

FT

 

[lizayuen]

Really nice project. The place is awesome. By the way when it will be finished? I have enjoyed looking the pictures, nice shots. Its like paradise.

--------------
Better boots for you

 

[mrpanini]

Four Seasons wants to build a resort at Kalpitiya

Aug 02, 2011 (LBO) - Canada based Four Seasons leisure group has proposed building a 400-room resort on an islet off Kalpitiya in Sri Lanka's north western coast, deputy economic development minister Lakshman Abeywardene said.

A team from Four Seasons had visited the site on July 27. The islands owned by the state are offered on lease to developers.
"They are now negotiating," minister Abeywardene said.

He said details about possible investments needed for the resort was not available.

Hong Kong-based Shangri La as well as several domestic groups have announced plans to build new resorts after a 30-year war ended in 2009.

http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?nid=1183627632