Ex-Tourism Chief recommends preserving historic Nuwara Eliya Post Office

•  Kimarli Fernando expresses concerns over Govt. decision to convert historic Post Office into a hotel, citing excess room capacity already in Nuwara Eliya
•  Suggests to consider switching President’s Nuwara Eliya residence into hotel if need arises for capacity

Former Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando suggested yesterday to consider switching the President’s Nuwara Eliya residence into a hotel as an option if demand arises for additional accommodation.

She voiced her concerns over the Government’s decision to convert the historic Nuwara Eliya Post Office into a hotel, acknowledging the ‘excess’ room capacity in upcountry city.

“Nuwara Eliya currently has excess room capacity. Should there be a need for more rooms, converting the President’s Nuwara Eliya house, to a hotel, could be considered in the future, if needed,” she said via her Facebook account.

On Monday the Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the Investment Promotion Minister to convert Nuwara Eliya Post Office into a hotel.

“Taj Group has proposed converting the Nuwara Eliya Colonial-era Post Office into a hotel. The proposal came to the Presidential Secretariat and the specifics will be made available by the Secretariat once the project gets off the ground,” Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardana confirmed at the post-Cabinet meeting media briefing on Tuesday.

Fernando said the Post Office in Nuwara Eliya, the Tudor-style two-storey red-brick building with a clock spire, was constructed in 1894 by the British. Sri Lanka Post has been in existence for more than 209 years, with a proud history and heritage.

“It should remain as a working Post Office. If management needs to be shared to uplift, where income is shared, a unique memorabilia museum, store or tea boutique could be considered, to generate income,” she noted.