New GMs at Cinnamon Grand and Cinnamon Lakeside

Cinnamon Grand Colombo General Manager Nazoomi Azhar

Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo General Manager Dushyantha Tittawella

Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, Colombo Hotels yesterday announced a new chapter in its leadership with the appointment of two distinguished hoteliers to key positions within its Colombo city sector. Effective from 1 September 2025, these appointments mark a significant milestone in the group’s continued commitment to hospitality excellence.

Nazoomi Azhar has been appointed as the new General Manager of Cinnamon Grand Colombo, bringing with him a wealth of experience and a proven track record as the former General Manager of Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo.

Dushyantha Tittawella steps into the role of General Manager of Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo, having previously served as Hotel Manager of Cinnamon Grand Colombo.

To celebrate these appointments, Cinnamon Grand Colombo hosted a special event on 29 August at the Oak Room. The evening was graced by distinguished guests, stakeholders, and members of the media, who came together to celebrate the leadership, achievements, and future vision of these three pillars of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts.

As Hotel Manager of Cinnamon Grand Colombo, Dushyantha Tittawella has been a steadfast pillar of support to General Manager Kamal Munasinghe, translating strategic vision into day-to-day operational excellence. Leading multi-disciplinary teams across Rooms, Food and Beverage, Culinary, Front Office, and Events, he has driven the exacting standards, precision planning, and guest-centric culture that underpin the hotel’s recent accolades.

Under his operational stewardship, Cinnamon Grand Colombo has been recognised as Colombo’s Best 5-Star City Hotel; Nuga Gama has continued to shine as the city’s Best Authentic Sri Lankan Cuisine Restaurant, championing sustainable, village-style dining; and the property has seamlessly hosted prestigious international events and celebrity partnerships that have strengthened Sri Lanka’s profile as a global tourism destination.

His meticulous preparation and competition readiness were also instrumental in the hotel’s standout performance at Culinary Art & Food Expo (CAFÉ) 2023, organised by the Chefs Guild of Sri Lanka (CGL) together with the World Association of Chefs’ Societies (WACS), where Cinnamon Grand Colombo emerged Most Outstanding Overall Champions, Most Outstanding Colombo City Hotel Culinary Team, and Most Outstanding Culinary Overall Hotel Champions. 

Through disciplined execution, people leadership, and consistent focus on guest satisfaction, Tittawella has played a decisive role in elevating the Cinnamon Grand brand and enabling these achievements.

Under Nazoomi Azhar’s tenure at Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo, the property has flourished as Colombo’s leading “resort in the city,” pairing tranquil lakefront experiences with award-winning performance. The hotel secured the Most Outstanding Overall Hotel Championship Trophy at CAFE 2025, captured the BarChamps Competition 2025 championship for its world-class mixology and beverage innovation, earned the Best Annual Plan Achievement in Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts (2024/2025) for strategic excellence in planning and execution, and was recognised as the Best Commercial Team in Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts (2024/2025) for outstanding commercial performance.

The appointments of Azhar and Tittawella reflect Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts’ unwavering focus on leadership excellence, innovation, and growth. Together, these two leaders will continue to guide the brand into a new era of hospitality, reinforcing its mission to deliver world-class experiences across Sri Lanka and beyond.