Seth Dev, a home away from home, in Kalpitiya is geared to welcome both local and foreign up-end discerning travellers to indulge and unwind in a calm and serene ambience that offers a luxurious stay for families and honeymooners.
Bordering the lagoon and close to the tranquil blue beaches in Kalpitiya, the 14-chalet property occupying an acre of land, had its soft opening in March with full occupancy on a daily basis. The breathtaking and panoramic view of the locality, a hotspot for tourism, the wide variety of local and international cuisine coupled with a number of signature dishes comprising seafood to satisfy discerning palates, boat rides to the islands, guided tours to religious and historical sites fascinate the fun-loving holiday makers.
The hotel serves exclusive gastronomic delights by chefs bringing in their best to the table with years of local and international exposure. The straw-thatched chalets with a spacious veranda are fitted with ultra-modern amenities to offer a memorable stay to the comfort seeking traveller.
Ranga Perera, a barrister in UK and the CEO of Bizservices which owns the property, said he travelled the length and breadth of the country in search of a block of land to build a hotel but could not find a genuine owner.
“Finally, destiny brought me to the exact place I was looking for. Being amazed by the number of tourists who thronged the beaches, I thought this is the place for my ‘first baby’. Since then there was no turning back even though many dissuaded me from venturing into tourism as it was not my area of expertise,” Perera said, adding that he hasn’t an iota of regret and that he would never have second thoughts about the investment which will pay rich dividends in time to come.
Plans are afoot to construct a club house and a lounge along with more entertainment and recreational facilities. Also in the pipeline is a similar hotel to be built in Ella shortly.
“We will be investing more to offer the best experience to visitors. We had plenty of hopes but they have been dashed by the unexpected incidents in April. However, we are not deterred by such cowardly and dastardly acts. We will never give up and I am confident tourism in Sri Lanka will bounce back soon in a big way bringing in the much needed foreign exchange to the country,” Perera said, adding that three ethnic groups living in harmony in Kalpitiya is a model for others to emulate .
Following the crippling attack on tourism, many in the industry from the snake charmer to the five-star hotels have lost their source of income. While some, especially those in the small and medium sector rung of businesses are on the brink of closure, others have shifted to other occupations.
Boat operators affiliated to hotels in Kalpitiya said before the attacks they had three to four tours a day but now not a single.
“Those in authority are least bothered and we are left to fend for ourselves. They have destroyed a lucrative industry which supports a large number of families in Kalpitiya,” a boat operator said.
Urging locals to support the industry at a time of need by patronising hotels across the country, Perera said Seth Dev has offered packages to meet the budgets of clients.
“We have tied up with banks to offer reductions to card holders,” he said.
Owing to security concerns, the hotel occupancy rate has dropped drastically, but the management is upbeat of full occupancy during the season. The number of tourist arrivals dropped by 70 percent in May and since then has picked up marginally.
Laksiri Fernando, CEO of Seth Dev, which manages the property, said he is confident of a quick revival and a turnaround in the travel and tourism industry.
“We have designed tours in Kalpitiya, such as visits to the Dutch Fort, the Dutch Reformed Church, to the ancient Bo Tree planted by Prince Sapumal on his way to conquer Jaffna. Mirissa and Jaffna are also places for whale-watching, but Kaplitiya is the best location for it,” Fernando said.Kalpitiya, comprising 14 islands, is predominantly a fisheries village in the Puttalam district. It is a marine sanctuary with a diversity of habitats ranging from bar reefs, flat coastal plains, salt pans, salt marshes, mangrove swamps and sand dune beaches. The coastal waters are home to spinner, bottlenose Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, whales, sea turtles and the elusive dugong.
The location is also known for kite-surfing during the south west monsoon from May to October. The annual feast at St. Anne’s shrine in Thalawila, a nearby village, attracts a large number of devotees in August.
The Ministry of Tourism has drawn up a plan to develop tourism in Kalpitiya. The area is one of the 15 sites earmarked under the tourism development strategy of 2003.However, the scarcity of water poses a huge threat to residents and hotel operators in the area.“A charity organisation is due to implement a project which will provide us with water,” Fernando said.
