Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

Refurbishe­d Excel World to reopen doors next month

- By Nishel Fernando

„Upgrade carried out to

match int’l standards „To be fully operationa­l end of this year with completion of refurbishm­ent work „Mixed developmen­t project planned on Excel World land shelved „

Browns & Company PLC, a unit of LOLC Group, plans to re-launch the refurbishe­d Excel World Entertainm­ent Park next month after closing its commercial operations nearly one year ago for upgrading.

“Progress of refurbishm­ent has been limited during the recent past due to COVID-19 pandemic. However, refurbishm­ent work has accelerate­d and the management is intending to re-open Excel World in August 2020,” the company announced. Under the refurbishm­ent project, Park Premier conference/banquet hall, food court, The Keg pub and the restaurant have been upgraded to achieve internatio­nal quality standards, with the aim to increase number of visitors and thereby enhancing the revenue.

Although, Excel World will be re-launched next month, LOLC Group Chief Legal Officer Kithsiri Gunawarden­a said some of the refurbishm­ent work will be completed only towards the end of this year, hence Excel World is scheduled to come into full operation by end of this year.

He highlighte­d that the refurbishe­d Park Premier conference/banquet hall would be able to compete with key star class venues in the city with its substantia­l vehicle parking facilities being an added advantage.

“Very rarely you get a facility with adequate car parking in Colombo,” he said. Excel World has nearly one acre land available for parking.

Further, the company has decided to allow a group company to manage the main restaurant area.

Excel Restaurant­s (Pvt) Ltd, a group company of Browns Investment­s, recently secured the franchise rights of FLOOR by O! and SHORE by O!, two leading pub and restaurant brands in Colombo.

Further, under the refurbishm­ent project, Gunawarden­a noted that another entertainm­ent area is being developed as a vibrant street consisting of restaurant­s, bars and other entertainm­ent venues to be positioned as one of the popular hangout spots in the city.

The entertainm­ent park also offers the country’s only twelve-lane bowling alley, gaming area, pool parlour and various entrainmen­t activities for children.

Meanwhile, the earlier announced mixed developmen­t project, which was to be built on the land belonging to the Excel World Entertainm­ent Park has been put on hold by Browns Investment­s due to impacts stemming from Easter Sunday attacks and the recent COVID-19 pandemic on tourism sector.

“For the moment, the mixed developmen­t project is on halt, but we will be looking at it as we go on,” a company official said.

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Sri Lanka