Bolagala Floating Agro Tourism Resort in Katana located close to the Negombo tourism hub will be the newest addition to the inventory of unique experiences for tourists visiting Sri Lanka. This is the first-ever floating resort in Sri Lanka created adopting an agro-tourism theme consists of 50 floating cabanas, including 10 GPS tracker equipped cabanas that could freely move around the picturesque lake giving visitors an exceptional experience: floating swimming pool, floating restaurant, main restaurant, pub & karaoke lounge, underwater spa, gym are the main components of the project.
In addition, a combination of experiences is offered to tourists catering to diverse tour expectations such as watersports, organic greenhouses, bicycle & jogging tracks, fishing, tennis court and the electric car experience. This sustainable tourism venture introduces the organic farming concept where the tourists are allowed to have hands-on experience of farming in Sri Lanka. This is the first time the organic farming concept is put into use in the Negombo area.
“Sustainable and eco-friendly products are the future for tourism particularly post COVID-19 and we look to the industry to be innovative and create unique experiences such as this project”. Chairperson of Sri Lanka Tourism, Kimarli Fernando shared. She further thanked all the government agencies for their collaboration in granting approvals for a challenging project of this nature understanding the value of the project for the tourism industry in Sri Lanka.
The project proponent Mr. Kelum Perera is a Sri Lankan entrepreneur who succeeded in realizing his dream of converting abandoned clay mining pits filled with rainwater into a sustainable tourism project. Seeing the environmental devastation left by clay miners with deeply dug out land spaces that could not be used for any other purpose, Mr. Kelum Perera started an initiative to convert 13 acres to an agro and aquaculture tourist resort to restore the natural ecosystem and the scenic beauty which was once destroyed due to human activities.
The project is planned to be completed in two stages: 1st Stage, completion of 3 Suite Rooms, 27 Deluxe Rooms, 3 GPS Movable Rooms, a floating swimming pool and a restaurant. 2nd stage: rest of the cabanas with the underwater spa and the other activity-based components. Underwater Spa is a unique feature incorporated into this project with 4 Spa rooms (Completely underwater), Each Room with a 4’x6’ underwater viewing glass providing the opportunity to enjoy underwater aquaculture while enjoying Spa facilities.
The Project target is to cater to the high-end tourist segment charging above the US $ 400 per night from mainly European countries. Representatives from international tour operators from Germany, France, UK & Italy have already visited the site to check hotel standards and quality to market to their clientele. Middle East market is also targeted in future.
The first stage of the project is already completed and will be opening in June 2021 which Sri Lanka Tourism assumes will surely be a perfect match to the post-COVID-19 tourism demand.
