Abans ready to change shopping concept in Sri Lanka with huge lifestyle mall in Colombo
On 13th May 2013, Abans Group in collaboration with SilverNeedle Hospitality, signed an agreement with AEDAS, internationally reputed and award winner architects to lead the design for their proposed US$ 100 million five star super mall opposite the Beira Lake in Colombo. The construction will commence early next year and is expected to be completed by 2016.
Abans Lifestyle Mall, which will be named Colombo City Centre, will be unique as it will be the first and only Lifestyle mall in Sri Lanka in par with the huge super malls in Singapore and Dubai. It will offer Sri Lankans as well as tourists to our country a place where they can come and spend the whole day with their families and enjoy the many faceted attractions all under one roof.
The mall will feature a spacious, stylish and modern shopping centre which will be subdivided into various sections for branded fashion garments for men, women and children, accessories, toys, stationery, jewellery, perfumes and cosmetics, groceries etc. There will also be a food court that will serve clean and wholesome food and will offer a variety of Sri Lankan and international cuisine, fast foods, snacks, ice cream and beverages.
Abans Colombo City Centre Mall will also have a 3D Cinema, a well equipped Gym, a cyber café, a spacious children's play area where parents can leave their toddlers and kids under supervision while they browse around and do their shopping, and other entertainment for children as well as adults. It will provide an excellent opportunity for the younger generation to meet and indulge in useful and healthy recreational activities in a five-star environment, instead of hanging around at shady places that entice them into bad habits that lead them astray.
The mall will also have a residential component comprising of a 200 roomed ultra five star hotel that will help to meet the demand created by increased tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka.
Iqbal Jumabhoy, Managing Director and Group CEO of SilverNeedle Hospitality said "As this is our first joint venture development in Asia, it was crucial that we selected a high-calibre architect who understood our desire for creating, inviting and engaging an iconic landmark that meets the professional and leisure accommodation needs of the business traveler and enhances the Colombo lifestyle. Aedas' ethos is consistent with this vision."
SilverNeedle Hospitality currently operate properties in the Asia-Pacific region under the Grand Chifley, Chifley, Country Comfort, Australis and Sundowner brands along with a growing portfolio of independent boutique hotels in South East Asia. SilverNeedle Hospitality is an innovative and progressive integrated hospitality, investment, management and development company, with a focus on mid to upscale hotels and resorts that are intelligently designed and operated for the professional and leisure needs of the business traveler. SilverNeedle Hospitality currently operates over 4000 keys in the Asia Pacific region. Headquartered in Singapore, SilverNeedle Hospitality has regional offices in Bangkok, Sydney and Bangalore. It was founded by Nadathur S Raghavan co-founder of NASDAQ - listed Infosys Technologies and The Nadathur Group and investment firm.
Aedas' Principal, Simon Griffiths explained, "Our creative excellence track records in delivering world class mixed-use developments were key to win this project. Aedas will, as always, create an attractive destination for Colombo City to improve the cityscape and introduce a contemporary travel and lifestyle experience."
Mrs. Aban Pestonjee, Chairperson of Abans Group said, "We are delighted and happy to have this opportunity of contributing to Sri Lanka's development in a very positive way. We will maintain our Lifestyle Mall in an exemplary five-star manner and introduce latest global trends, from time to time, to ensure that our super mall will always remain on par with the best super malls in the world."