Sanken to build two hotels in Maldives

By Shirajiv Sirimane (shirajivs@gmail.com)

Sanken Overseas will invest over US$ 330 million to build two Resort hotels in Maldives, Fiji and an energy project in Africa.

In addition the company has undertaken to build four other resorts in Maldives to the value of US$ 300 million.

Sanken Overseas Chief Executive officer B. B. Kalupana said the resort branded as Havodda Amari Resorts will be opened on January 14. The property will be managed by the Onex Hospitality group and will have two suites, 58 water villas and 60 beach villas. “This is our first hospitality investment outside Sri Lanka. The first was Cinnamon Red hotel.”

Havodda Amari Resorts has made history in the Maldives being the most qickest constructed hotel. It was built in one year. The total investment was around US$ 50 million and funds were raised with a foreign partner.

Sanken’s B. B. Kalupana, Duleesha Wijesiri, and Mevan Gunatilleke in Colombo. Picture by Shirajiv Sirimane

Sanken Overseas has also requested for a second island in the Maldives to build a second resort hotel. “This too would 100 plus key property.” Both the islands are being obtained directly from the government on a 50 year ‘head’ lease. “We hope to market each room for around US$ 600.”

He said Sanken Overseas has also obtained another land in Male City to build an 88 room business hotel. “We will start construction in February and it would be another US $ 50 million investment.”Both hotels would be 50 minutes flying time away from the Maldives international airport.

Ravindra Wijesooriya, Head of Administration, Sanken Overseas, said that they employed over 700 Sri Lanka staff for the construction.

Sanken Overseas Assistant General Manager Duleesha Wijesiri said they are also looking at a major power project in Africa. “Due to intense competition we don’t want to disclose further details at this point. It would be a US $ 200 million investment.”

Special Projects Director Mevan Gunatilleke said the company is currently involved in building four resorts with over 400 rooms for clients in Germany, Turkey, Russia and Mauritius. The value of them will be in the excess of US$ 190 million.

www.dailynews.lk