The Golden Crown Hotel, a super luxury, deluxe property located on two acres of beautifully landscaped gardens in Kandy and designed by renowned architect Dr. Upendra Rajapakse, was ceremonially opened by President Maithripala Sirisena on November 25.
Owned by The Golden Crown Hotel Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Serene Holdings, who already operate Serene Grand Hotel, Kandy, Serene Grand Villa, Kandy, Serene Kings Villa, Nuwara Eliya, Serene Villa, Nuwara Eliya and the Tea Village, Nuwara Eliya, which is currently under construction, The Golden Crown indeed promises to be the ‘Jewel in Kandy’s crown’.
The proceedings commenced with the President welcomed by the Chairman of The Golden Crown Hotel Pvt. Ltd. Sriyananda Wijekoon and his team. The President was then escorted to the Hotel’s piece de resistance, the ‘Dancing Fountain’. The President thereafter proceeded to unveil the plaque commemorating the opening of The Golden Crown Hotel, followed by the ceremonial lighting of the oil lamp.
Present at the opening ceremony were several Ministers, MPs, Central Province Governor and Chief Minister, and many other government officials, along with distinguished dignitaries from the hospitality industry and the corporate.
Chairman Sriyananda Wijekoon speaking on the occasion said, “My family agreed that we should have an appropriate name, one of magnitude for the project that we had in mind. Something that represents the hospitality industry and the glory of Kandyan history and its culture. We believe we did justice to both by naming this property “The Golden Crown.” When a guest enters the building their first glimpse is the front desk which is a handmade masterpiece of Kandyan art. Every feature of the sculpture signifies an importance to our lives. To name a few, the four nests of swans represent ‘purity’, the pot with lotus flowers and the lotus flower in the centre represent ‘prosperity,’ etc. Any guest who visits The Golden Crown, leaves the property with a bit of Sri Lankan culture inculcated into them.”
Managing Director, Chanuka Wijekoon addressing the gathering said, this was a labour of love and a project that he himself supervised personally. “I was completely involved in the project, and every detail was overseen by me. My father has taught me to be hands on in anything we undertake as he has, and I have always endeavoured to follow his example. The investment in The Golden Crown exceeds US $ 15 million but we feel it would more than repay its dividends”.
General Manager, Roshan Fernando, said, “I am enchanted by the serene beauty of Kandy and The Golden Crown offers the perfect setting to enjoy the peace and quiet this historical city has to offer. The building in its entirety is 300,000 SqFt equipped with all modern luxuries and amenities, so that we ensure that our guests have a memorable stay.
The Golden Crown is a marvel of a structure, capturing the proud unique Kandyan history in a contemporary setting. Every feature of the Hotel has been well thought of and tastefully designed to provide the guest with a memorable experience”.
The Hotel is set amid verdant paddy fields, surrounded by lush greenery and is a sanctuary to those seeking peace and luxury. 90 Rooms including, 72 Deluxe Rooms, 10 Junior Suites, 6 Premium Suites, a Crown Suite and a Presidential Suite complete with a private elevator for both the Presidential and Crown suites, comprise the Hotel’s accommodation.