Citrus Waskaduwa resort opens on Southern coast
Citrus Leisure PLC declared open its iconic five-star property Citrus Waskaduwa recently. The hotel is the largest to be built anew in post-war Sri Lanka on a 9.5 acre land with 150-rooms set on an unspoilt, tranquil beach strip of half a kilometer, which promises a holiday experience like no other. Designed and constructed with elegance and “happiness moments” in mind, Citrus Waskaduwa is a perfect blend of luxury and new age minimalist style.
The hotel was opened by the Chief Guest President Mahinda Rajapaksa while the Guest of Honour was Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa.
Chairman of Citrus Leisure PLC, Prema Cooray said, “Although Citrus Leisure was the new kid on the block we are immensely proud to have proved our mettle by being the first leisure company to build and operate such a large hotel in the post-war era.”
The property which was originally meant to be 4-star was recently upgraded and redefined with added luxury, enhanced facilities and new amenities to provide a high end hospitality offering. The 150-rooms are segmented into 140 Superior Rooms, 6 Deluxe Rooms, 1 Luxury Suite and 1 Presidential Suite with “pure indulgence to suit your every desire” being the central theme across the board. A uniqueness of this multi-storey hotel is that guests can take pleasure in a magnificent sea view from the private balcony of every room. Each room is also equipped with a kingsize bed, 42-inch flat screen TV, a wellstocked mini-bar, Wi-Fi facilities and an open-sky bathroom. Guest services include laundry and 24 hour room service.
Also speaking on the occasion Director/CEO Citrus Leisure Chandana Talwatte noted, “Citrus is a brand built around an aura of fun, fulfillment and happiness. All our services converge to ensure our guests experience a holiday like no other. We began our foray into the leisure industry with the acquisition of a 40 roomed property in Hikkaduwa. Within 2 years, we have professionally transformed this hotel into an exciting 100 roomed hotel strategically located on the popular Hikka strip. Our greatest strength is our staff, who believes in the value of teamwork and shared responsibility. We are proud to have the best in the industry within our fold and stand confident that we can make a positive impact on the leisure sector of Sri Lanka.”
Situated just 37km from Colombo, Citrus Waskaduwa also features extensive banquet facilities, including one of the country’s biggest banquet halls “Mandarin Shore” with the highest ceiling expanse on offer. The modern “pillar-less” banquet hall can cater to up to 500 guests while the smaller “Blue Orchard” ballroom is equipped for 200 pax. For smaller, more intimate gatherings the “Sky Lime” beach lounge is also a stunning setting. Equipped with one of the largest kitchens in the island, the banquet team at Waskaduwa has the capacity and capability to turn dream weddings into reality while also catering to the thriving MICE tourism market.