President opens Golden Crown Hotel in Kandy
The Golden Crown Hotel, a super luxury, deluxe property located on two acres of beautifully landscaped gardens in Kandy and designed by renowned architect Dr. Upendra Rajapakse, was ceremonially declared open by President Maithripala Sirisena on November 25.
Owned by The Golden Crown Hotel (Pvt.) Ltd, which is a subsidiary of Serene Holdings, which already operates Serene Grand Hotel in Kandy, Serene Grand Villa in Kandy, Serene Kings Villa in Nuwara Eliya, Serene Villa in Nuwara Eliya and Tea Village in Nuwara Eliya, which is currently under construction, The Golden Crown indeed promises to be the ‘Jewel in Kandy’s crown’.
The proceedings commenced with the president being welcomed by The Golden Crown Hotel (Pvt.) Ltd Chairman Sriyananda Wijekoon and his team. The president was then escorted to the hotel’s piece de resistance, the ‘Dancing Fountain’, after which the Channa Dance Troupe performed a scintillating water ballet.
The president thereafter proceeded to unveil the plaque, commemorating the opening of The Golden Crown Hotel, which was followed by the traditional lighting of the oil lamp.
Also present at the opening of The Golden Crown were several ministers, parliamentary members, Central Province governor and chief minister and many other government officials. Also present were distinguished dignitaries from the hospitality industry and corporates.
Wijekoon speaking on the occasion said, “My family agreed that we have to have an appropriate, one of magnitude for the project that we were having in our minds – something that represents the hospitality industry and the glory of the Kandyan history and culture. We believe we did justice to both by naming this property ‘The Golden Crown’.”
When guests enter the building, their first glimpse is our front desk, which is a handmade masterpiece of Kandyan art. Every feature of the sculpture signifies meanings of importance to our lives. To name a few of these features – the four nests of swans represent ‘purity’, the pot with lotus flowers and the lotus flower in the centre represent ‘prosperity,’ etc. Any guest visiting The Golden Crown leaves the property with a bit of Sri Lankan culture inculcated into them.”
Managing Director Chanuka Wijekoon addressing the gathering said that this was a labour of love and was a project that he himself supervised personally. “I was completely hands on and every detail was overseen by myself. My father has taught me to be hands on with anything we undertake as he has and I have always endeavoured to follow his example. The investment in The Golden Crown exceeds US $ 15 million but we feel it will more than repay its dividends.”
General Manager Roshan Fernando addressing the gathering said, “I am enchanted by the serene beauty of Kandy and The Golden Crown offers the perfect setting to enjoy the peace and quiet this historical city has to offer.
The building in its entirety is of 300,000 square feet and of the modern luxuries and amenities we offer our guests ensure they have a memorable stay.”
Ninety rooms, including 72 Deluxe Rooms, 10 Junior Suites, six Premium Suites, a Crown Suite and a Presidential Suite complete with a private elevator for both the Presidential and Crown suites, comprise the hotel’s accommodation.
Veteran hospitality industry expert Roshan Fernando, who heads The Golden Crown team, has almost 40 years in the hospitality sector under his belt and will incorporate his strong leadership skills and prowess as a manager to ensure that The Golden Crown stays true to its name.
The three banquet halls with a combined capacity of over 2000 persons and 36,000 different shades of fully animated lighting systems to match any theme/colour, is unmatched.
The Windsor Ballroom (500 persons), Crown Court (500 persons) and Grand Ballroom (1200 persons), which is one of the largest pillar-less halls in Sri Lanka, are guaranteed to cater to the most exacting of wedding/conference organisers.
The hotel’s fitness centre, sauna and spa are state-of-theart, while an infinity swimming pool is set on the second floor with a picturesque view where the guest can relax and bask in the tropical sun.
All rooms are tastefully designed and include flat screen TVS with IPTV facility, while all categories of suites have Jacuzzis, rain showers and panoramic views.