President Ranil Wickremesinghe  

President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday expressed confidence that the ITC Ratnadipa Hotel will serve as a symbol of Colombo city and tourism centred around Colombo. 

He made this observation during his address after inaugurating the 352-room luxury hotel in Colombo by India’s ITC. “ITC welcome to Sri Lanka,” said President Wickremesinghe extending a warm greeting. In his address, the President highlighted the prominent hotels in the vicinity, including the historic Galle Face Hotel which is bestowed as the first five-star hotel in Asia, the Taj Hotel from India and the Shangri-La Hotel from Singapore. 

He emphasised the significance of the newly established ITC Ratnadipa Hotel, positioned among these esteemed establishments by its height. 

He also spoke of the forthcoming Cinnamon Life project located behind the hotel. The President highlighted the rich heritage of the Sri Lankan hotel industry, noting the Oberoi Hotel as the pioneering city hotel in the country. He emphasised India’s historical contribution to Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, citing the early establishment of tourist hotels.

Reflecting on the diverse range of hotels in the vicinity, including those representing India and Singapore, he expressed his belief that the location of the ITC hotel is unparalleled in Asia, offering a truly unique experience.

President Wickremesinghe expressed confidence that the ITC Ratnadipa Hotel will serve as a symbol of Colombo city and tourism centred around Colombo. He highlighted the significance of Sri Lanka being chosen as the preferred destination by ITC, following their successful establishment of a 10,000-room hotel chain in India.

The President outlined plans for further development beyond Colombo, including relocating the President’s House to the Madiwela area within the next decade. He also emphasised the potential for transforming sites like Republic Square, Navy Headquarters, Old Jetty, Customs House and the General Post Office into key components of the burgeoning Colombo Tourist City.

President Wickremesinghe reflected on the challenging circumstances the country faced two years ago, recalling the raid on the former president’s office that sparked unrest amid an economic downturn. However, he highlighted the remarkable progress made in rebuilding the economy within a span of two years. With Colombo emerging as a bustling tourist destination and the presence of star-grade hotels offering hope for the future of tourism, President Wickremesinghe expressed confidence that the tourism sector would play a pivotal role in revitalising the economy. He affirmed the Government’s commitment to providing necessary support and facilities to expedite the recovery process through tourism.

President Wickremesinghe emphasised the importance of establishing an economy that would ensure stability and prosperity for all citizens. He highlighted on-going efforts to implement strategic plans aimed at achieving this goal, emphasising that these initiatives would contribute to stabilising Sri Lankan economy and enhancing the standard of living for its people.

Indian giant ITC begins global hospitality journey with Sri Lanka