Life style

Double Tree by Hilton at Weerawila

Published

5 years ago

2021/01/3

by Zanita Careem

The Double Tree by Hilton Weerawila, a property situated within the lush bird sanctuary which is home to over 40 species of birds and in close proximmity to major wild life parks with facilities. The nature inspired design caters to both business and leisure travellers.

A stay at Double Tree starts off with a warm chocolate chip cookie welcome and followed by warm hospitality, delectable cuisine and comfortable stay. No matter which Double Tree property you choose you will be greeted at the reception with a warm chocolate chip cookie at the reception, a tradition since 1986. The Double Tree Weerawila, is the first in Sri Lanka and we are committed to maintain our hospitality to create a benchmark for guests around the world said Paul Hutton Vice President Operations South East Asia for Hilton. Krishantha Damunapola GM at Double Tree by Hilton said that he is delighted to be a part of the Double Tree property. A veteran hotelier Krishnatha promises top notch hospitality with his warm smile and hospitality.Krishantha exudes compelling charm and persona. “We have a great team which stood strong at all times to ensure that Double Tree Hilton has the results that we are today”said Paul.

This property has a new three-storey, 78-room modern resort in Weerawila. The newly-built resort is owned by KDU Adventures (Private) Limited and joins Hilton Colombo and Hilton Colombo Residences as the third hotel to be managed by Hilton in the country.

The resort has a exquisite ballroom, nature-inspired meeting spaces, stunning restaurants and bars, which makes DoubleTree by Hilton Weerawila Rajawarna Resort a natural choice for the weary travellers from far and wide.

“We are thrilled to launch our first DoubleTree by Hilton resort in Sri Lanka The opening of this stunning property and joining the Hilton portfolio in the country marks a milestone said Vice President Paul. This is a brand that consistently delivers service that is authentic, reliable and straight from the heart,” said Vice President Operations South East Asia for Hilton.

This Resort located 25 kilometers from Mattala Rajapakse International Airport – a convenient 28-minute drive away – and just over a half hour drive from Hambantota Port district, an up and coming commercial zone in the south of the country. The resort is a few minutes away from popular tourist attractions such as Kataragama Sacred City, Bundala and Yala National Parks.

This resort is one of our fastest growing brands with a presence of more than 600 upscale hotels across 47 countries. Over the past decade, the brand has experienced exponential growth, close to quadrupling in size to accommodate the world’s thriving economic and business centers and growing tourism industries,” said Shawn McAteer, global brand head, DoubleTree by Hilton. “We are delighted to welcome this great new addition to our portfolio which is ideal for travellers seeking an unrivaled retreat underscored by superior service and hospitality.”

EXCEPTIONAL DINING

DoubleTree by Hilton Weerawila Rajawarna Resort offers exceptional dining experiences through its two restaurants and three bars featuring panoramic views of the tranquil Lake Weerawila along with diverse menus. The restaurents are named after birds in that area

Guests can savor a wide variety of cuisines made from local and seasonal produce at Spoonbill, the resort’s all-day dining restaurant, tea lounge and barbeque grill. The restaurant serves a creative blend of international and continental specialities and features an extensive list of international wines to complement the meal.

At the Redshank, located on the rooftop, overlooking the serene Lake Weerawila, offers a wide selection of seafood, from Sri Lanka’s famed crabs, shrimps, and lobsters to the freshest “catch of the day”.

The resort also features three stunning bars to choose from. Guests can enjoy a round of eight ball pool at Turnstone, the resort’s main bar which offers plush, cosy indoor and outdoor seating; raise a glass after a long day of travel at Hornbill, the resort’s enchanting pool bar and lounge, or sip on a signature cocktail and enjoy the view from Nightjar, the resort’s rooftop bar.

The resort’s 78 Digital Key-enabled, spacious guest rooms are equipped with a 49″ HDTV with entertainment hub, Wi-Fi, king or twin bedding, terrace or balcony, rain shower and Crabtree and Evelyn amenities. Guests seeking exercise or relaxation have a variety of options, including a 24-hour fitness center with 3600 views outfitted with the latest Precor® equipment and free weights, a spectacular 75-meter-long outdoor swimming pool, Yoga Terrace, rooftop Wellness Spa, Karaoke Lounge and Tea Jar by the Lake.

A 10,000 square feet of meeting space, Rajawarna Resort is an ideal venue for weddings, business meetings and other social gatherings. The stunning pillar-less Grand Ballroom, can accommodate up to 600 guests in a wedding setting. The ballroom and the Weaver Meeting room are equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipments, as well as floor to ceiling windows that overlook tranquil Lake Weerawila.

In addition to the above highlights and as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, DoubleTree by Hilton Weerawila Rajawarna Resort is participating in the Hilton CleanStay Program to help guests enjoy a clean and safe experience during their stay. The new standards under Hilton CleanStay include a Hilton CleanStay Room Seal to show that a room has not been accessed since being thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, additional cleaning of common areas and items, contactless check-in, innovative disinfection technology and flexible housekeeping options.

The KDU Group prides itself on being one of the most successful family owned conglomerates in Sri Lanka. Consisting of 15 thriving subsidiaries, including Tea Factories Hospitality, Exports, Real Estate, Petroleum and a Hydro Power Plant, the tea industry lies at the core of our group. KDU Group are now a leading tea manufacturer and exporter, with some of the largest cutting-edge factories in Sri Lanka.

The KDU Group originating from Sabaragamuwa is the world’s largest black orthodox tea manufacturing facility in the world. It owns eight factories in the Sabaragamuwa Province and produces 12 million kilograms of tea annually, contributing to four percent of Sri Lanka’s entire tea production.

KDU Group has also ventured into F&B, hydropower, and petroleum industries and this is their first diversification to the leisure sector. DoubleTree by Hilton is a fast-growing, global portfolio of more than 500 upscale hotels with more than 119,000 rooms in gateway cities, metropolitan areas and vacation destinations across six continents.

Pix by Dhamasena Wellipitiya

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Life style

Salman Faiz leads with vision and legacy

Published

2 days ago

2026/02/15

Thilina Walpola

At the helm - blending heritage with vision

Salman Faiz has turned his family legacy into a modern sensory empire. Educated in London, he returned to Sri Lanka with a global perspective and a refined vision, transforming the family legacy into a modern sensory powerhouse blending flavours,colours and fragrances to craft immersive sensory experiences from elegant fine fragrances to natural essential oils and offering brand offerings in Sri Lanka. Growing up in a world perfumed with possibility, Aromatic Laboratories (Pvt) Limited founded by his father he has immersed himself from an early age in the delicate alchemy of fragrances, flavours and essential oils.

Salman Faiz did not step into Aromatic Laboratories Pvt Limited, he stepped into a world already alive with fragrance, precision and quiet ambition. Long before he became the Chairman of this large enterprise, founded by his father M. A. Faiz and uncle M.R. Mansoor his inheritance was being shaped in laboratories perfumed with possibility and in conversations that stretched from Colombo to outside the shores of Sri Lanka, where his father forged early international ties, with the world of fine fragrance.

Growing up amidst raw materials sourced from the world’s most respected fragrance houses, Salman Faiz absorbed the discipline of formulation and the poetry of aroma almost by instinct. When Salman stepped into the role of Chairman, he expanded the company’s scope from a trusted supplier into a fully integrated sensory solution provider. The scope of operations included manufacturing of flavours, fragrances, food colours and ingredients, essential oils and bespoke formulations including cosmetic ingredients. They are also leading supplier of premium fragrances for the cosmetic,personal care and wellness sectors Soon the business boomed, and the company strengthened its international sourcing, introduced contemporary product lines and extended its footprint beyond Sri Lanka’s borders.

Where raw materials transform into refined fragrance

Salman Faiz -carrying forward a legacy

Today, Aromatic Laboratories stands as a rare example of a second generation. Sri Lankan enterprise that has retained its soul while embracing scale and sophistication. Under Salman Faiz’s leadership, the company continues to honour his father’s founding philosophy that every scent and flavour carries a memory, or story,and a human touch. He imbibed his father’s policy that success was measured not by profit alone but the care taken in creation, the relationships matured with suppliers and the trust earned by clients.

“We are one of the leading companies manufacturing fragrances, dealing with imports,exports in Sri Lanka. We customise fragrances to suit specific applications. We also source our raw materials from leading French company Roberte’t in Grasse

Following his father, for Salman even in moments of challenge, he insisted on grace over haste, quality over conveniences and long term vision over immediate reward under Salman Faiz’s stewardship the business has evolved from a trusted family enterprise into a modern sensory powerhouse.

Now the company exports globally to France, Germany, the UK, the UAE, the Maldives and collaborates with several international perfumes and introduces contemporary products that reflect both sophistication and tradition.

We are one of the leading companies. We are one of the leading companies manufacturing fine and industrial fragrance in Sri Lanka. We customise fragrances to suit specific applications said Faiz

‘We also source our raw materials from renowned companies, in Germany, France, Dubai,Germany and many others.Our connection with Robertet, a leading French parfume House in Grasse, France runs deep, my father has been working closely with the iconic French company for years, laying the foundation for the partnership, We continue even today says Faiz”

Today this business stands as a rare example of second generation Sri Lankan entrepreneurship that retains its souls while embracing scale and modernity. Every aroma, every colour and every flavour is imbued with the care, discipline, and vision passed down from father to son – a living legacy perfected under Salmon Faiz’s guidance.

By Zanita Careem

Life style

Home coming with a vision

Published

2 days ago

2026/02/15

Thilina Walpola

Uruwela Estate team

Harini and Chanaka cultivating change

When Harini and Chanaka Mallikarachchi returned to Sri Lanka after more than ten years in the United States, it wasn’t nostalgia alone that they brought home . It was purpose.Beneath the polished resumes and strong computer science backgrounds lay something far more personal- longing to reconnect with the land, and to give back to the country that shaped their memories. From that quiet but powerful decision was born Agri Vision not just an agricultural venture but a community driven movement grounded in sustainability ,empowerment and heritage. They transform agriculture through a software product developed by Avya Technologies (Pvt Limited) Combining global expertise with a deep love for their homeland, they created a pioneering platform that empowers local farmers and introduce innovative, sustainable solutions to the country’s agri sector.

After living for many years building lives and careers in theUnited States, Harini and Chanaka felt a powerful pull back to their roots. With impressive careers in the computer and IT sector, gaining global experience and expertise yet, despite their success abroad, their hearts remained tied to Sri Lanka – connection that inspired their return where they now channel their technological know-how to advance local agriculture.

For Harini and Chanaka, the visionaries behind Agri Vision are redefining sustainable agriculture in Sri Lanka. With a passion for innovation and community impact, they have built Agri Vision into a hub for advanced agri solutions, blending global expertise with local insight.

In Sri Lanka’s evolving agricultural landscape, where sustainability and authenticity are no longer optional but essential. Harini and Chanaka are shaping a vision that is both rooted and forward looking. In the heart of Lanka’s countryside, Uruwela estate Harini and Chanaka alongside the ever inspiring sister Malathi, the trio drives Agri Vision an initiative that fuses cutting edge technology with age old agricultural wisdom. At the core of their agri philosophy lies two carefully nurtured brands artisan tea and pure cinnamon, each reflecting a commitment to quality, heritage and people.

Armed with global exposure and professional backgrounds in the technology sector,they chose to channel thier experiences into agriculture, believing that true progress begins at home.

: Avya Technologies (Pvt) ltd software company that developed Agri Vision

: Chanaka,Harini and Shakya Mallikarachchi and Malathi Malathi dias (middle)

But the story of Agri Vision is as much about relationships as it is about technology. Harini with her sharp analytical mind, ensures the operations runs seamlessly Chanaka, the strategist looks outward, connecting Agri Vision to globally best practices and Malathi is their wind behind the wings, ensures every project maintains a personal community focussed ethos. They cultivate hope, opportunity and a blueprint for a future where agriculture serves both the land and the people who depend on it .

For the trio, agriculture is not merely about cultivation, it is about connection. It is about understanding the rhythm of the land, respecting generations of farming knowledge, and that growth is shared by the communities that sustain it. This belief forms the backbone of Agro’s vision, one that places communities not only on the periphery, but at the very heart of every endeavour.

Artisan tea is a celebration of craft and origin sourced from selected growing regions and produced with meticulous attention to detail, the tea embodier purity, traceability and refinement, each leaf is carefully handled to preserve character and flavour, reflecting Sri Lanka’s enduring legacy as a world class tea origin while appealing to a new generation of conscious consumers complementing this is pure Cinnamon, a tribute to authentic Ceylon, Cinnamon. In a market saturated with substitutes, Agri vision’s commitment to genuine sourcing and ethical processing stands firm.

By working closely with cinnamon growers and adhering to traditional harvesting methods, the brands safeguards both quality and cultural heritage.

What truly distinguishes Harini and Chanake’s Agri Vision is their community approach. By building long term partnerships with smallholders. Farmers, the company ensures fair practises, skill development and sustainable livelihoods, These relationships foster trust and resilience, creating an ecosystem where farmers are valued stakeholders in the journey, not just suppliers.

Agri vision integrates sustainable practices and global quality standards without compromising authenticity. This harmony allows Artisan Tea and Pure Cinnamon to resonate beyond borders, carrying with them stories of land, people and purpose.

As the brands continue to grow Harini and Chanaka remain anchored in their founding belief that success of agriculture is by the strength of the communities nurtured along the way. In every leaf of tea and every quill of cinnamon lies a simple yet powerful vision – Agriculture with communities at heart.

By Zanita Careem

Life style

Marriot new GM Suranga

Published

2 days ago

2026/02/15

Thilina Walpola

Suranga new G. M. at Mariott

Courtyard by Marriott Colombo has welcomed Suranga Peelikumbura as its new General Manager, ushering in a chapter defined by vision, warmth, and global sophistication.

Suranga’s story is one of both breadth and depth. Over two decades, he has carried the Marriott spirit across continents, from the shimmering luxury of The Ritz-Carlton in Doha to the refined hospitality of Ireland, and most recently to the helm of Resplendent Ceylon as Vice President of Operations. His journey reflects not only international mastery but also a devotion to Sri Lanka’s own hospitality narrative.

What distinguishes Suranga is not simply his credentials but the philosophy that guides him. “Relationships come first, whether with our associates, guests, partners, or vendors. Business may follow, but it is the strength of these connections that defines us.” It is this belief, rooted in both global perspective and local heart, that now shapes his leadership at Courtyard Colombo.

At a recent gathering of corporate leaders, travel partners, and media friends, Suranga paid tribute to outgoing General Manager Elton Hurtis, hon oring his vision and the opportunities he created for associates to flourish across the Marriott world. With deep respect for that legacy, Suranga now steps forward to elevate guest experiences, strengthen community ties, and continue the tradition of excellence that defines Courtyard Colombo.

From his beginnings at The Lanka Oberoi and Cinnamon Grand Colombo to his leadership roles at Weligama Bay Marriott and Resplendent Ceylon, Suranga’s career is a testament to both resilience and refinement. His return to Marriott is not merely a professional milestone, it is a homecoming.