Grand Dewasiri Cottage, Nuwara Eliya introduces 26-hour checkout

Grand Dewasiri Cottage, Nuwara Eliya and Restaurant

Grand Dewasiri Cottage, Nuwara Eliya is introducing special 26-hour checkout packages to woo travellers. 

“This flexible time package has been offered to provide more time for travellers to do excursions in and around Nuwara Eliya and offer longer time to relax after a long journey,” said Chairman Dixson Buddha Koralage.  

He said that the small and medium hotels and specially the restaurant sector in Nuwara Eliya were facing huge financial issues due to foreign tourists not visiting the area after the Easter Sunday blasts. “Our survival depends on guests and this is the reason we are offering the special 26-hour checkout package instead of the traditional 22-hour checkout.”

The hotel also offers pick up facilities from Nanu Oya Railway station in a bid for travellers to use public transport. He said that unlike in many cities there is no outgoing resident dining market in Nuwara Eliya due to the cold climate and most of the restaurants depend on local and foreign visitors. In a bid to offer more services to guests, the management has also purchased a fleet of vehicles including cars and mini vans to launch their domestic transport arm. “This service will be available 24 hours from any part of Sri Lanka.” 

The Grand Dewasiri Cottage offers three double rooms and one family room with lobby with large cable TV and hot water, heater and other modern amenities. In addition Koralage also owns and operates Grand Dewasiri Sea Food Restaurant which is adjoining the hotel. This restaurant offers special seafood and can accommodate 60 guests. The resultant offers take away facilities for people going on picnics and a special breakfast pack even at 5 a.m. People who patronise the Grand Dewasiri Sea Food Restaurant also get a 20% discount on the room rate. 

“We will also introduce a pizza counter from next month to meet the demand for diversified food lovers both local and foreign. Since I want to maintain quality and freshness of sea food I travel twice to Colombo fish market to reach at 2 a.m. to buy fresh fish and travel back to Nuwara Eliya in time to prepare breakfast.” 

He said that he was based in Italy and was working in the cleaning business and decided to invest in Sri Lanka as he saw the huge potential for tourism. “Three years ago I invested Rs. 25 million to build a restaurant in my native town Hikkaduwa. After doing several surveys I found that there was a vacuum for a quality seafood restaurants in Nuwara Eliya and invested a further Rs. 40 million to open Grand Dewasiri Sea Food Restaurant. Later I added five luxury rooms for this property which I have taken on lease.”