• $ 100 m investment culminates in long-awaited debut
• Partnership between Lanka Hotels and Residencies and Marriott International  

The much-anticipated Sheraton Colombo Hotel, part of the world’s largest hotel chain Marriott International, is expected to be officially opened on 30 December.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, Lanka Hotels and Residencies (Pvt) Ltd. (LHR) Chairman Don Gamini Gunaratne revealed that following years of delay owing to the Covid-19 pandemic and Sri Lanka’s economic woes, the Sheraton Colombo Hotel, which was developed by LHR, would finally officially launch on 30 December.

He stated that LHR had invested nearly $ 100 million in the development of the Colombo Sheraton Hotel.

He further revealed that LHR had entered into a 30-year management contract with Marriott International for the hotel.

“We have entered into a management contract with them. It is the same principle that has been adopted in Marriott Courtyard, which was done by Abans and managed by Marriott,” he stated. 

In May 2012, LHR and its promoters – Green Water Resorts (Pvt) Ltd. India and Eurocon Building Industries FZC of the UAE – entered into a management agreement in Colombo with the US-based Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc., owners of the Sheraton brand, to operate and manage the Sheraton Colombo Hotel.

The 320-room Sheraton Colombo Hotel located in Colombo 3, complete with a Presidential Suite and other themed luxury suites along with a collection of four restaurant outlets, was originally scheduled to be launched in 2020. However, the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic crisis proved to be a damper on such plans.

The architectural contract for Sheraton Colombo Hotel had been awarded to leading global architectural design consultancy firm WS Atkins, which is also the designer and engineer for Burj Al Arab, the Address Downtown, Dubai Metro, and the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The interior design contract was awarded to Catallo Associates of Singapore.