First tourist resort of Maithri era opens

• Japanese firm establishes first footprint in Hikkaduwa with 30-room Bansei by Hotel J

Tourism and Sports Minister Navin Dissanayake along with Japanese Ambassador Nobuhito Hobo unveil the plaque to mark the opening of Bansei by Hotel J in Hikkaduwa on Friday - Pic by Upul Abayasekera. See more pix on Page 4

The first tourist resort of the Maithri-era was opened on Friday thanks to an important initiative by Japanese investor Bansei Securities in partnership with Jetwing. The 30-room Bansei by Hotel J was ceremoniously opened by President Maithripala Sirisena-Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Government’s new Tourism and Sports Minister Navin Dissanayake along with Japanese Ambassador Nobuhito Hobo. The hotel is latest venture of Bansei Royal Resorts Hikkaduwa Plc, a subsidiary of Bansei Securities Ltd., of Japan, which has investments in Sri Lanka’s financial services industry. The resort is managed by leisure industry giant Jetwing which also marks its entry into the tourist hub of Hikkaduwa. Hotel J is Jetwing’s select service accommodation brand with the first one being opened in Negombo. The property remains true to the key principles of a Hotel J – central location, comfort, cleanliness, connectivity, and security. Bansei Securities Chairman Toyohiko Murakami, Bansei Royal Resorts Chairman Tilak de Zoysa, Directors Takashi Igarashi, Viraj Malawana and Jetwing Hotels Chairman Hiran Cooray were among officials present. Minister Dissanayake in his brief remarks described the opening of Bansei by Hotel J as “historic” and welcomed the investment by Bansei. He also expressed bullishness over the future prospects of Sri Lankan tourism as well as further Japanese investments in to the sector and tourist arrivals from Japan. He said Japan-Sri Lanka bilateral ties have been longstanding, solid and positive. “Japanese private sector investments and official funding has been very beneficial to Sri Lanka and I can assure you that Japan-Sri Lanka ties will get better and stronger under the new Government,” said Dissanayake who is also the Secretary of Sri Lanka Japan Parliamentary Association. He expressed hope that Bansei will further expand its footprint in Sri Lanka’s tourism sector. Minister Dissanayake also said that he will engage with tourism sector stakeholders effectively to boost the industry’s future prospects.