• Selendiva to draw investments 
• Hilton, Hyatt, Gaffoor Building to be open to investors 
• Government to hold 51% shares

By Easwaran Rutnam 

Multiple properties in Colombo are to be opened up for investments under a Private-Public Partnership (PPP) model through a new company formed with Cabinet approval. 

Selendiva Investments Limited has been formed with Cabinet approval under which three clusters have been created. 

The properties to be open for investments will be included in the three clusters, namely the Colombo Fort Heritage Square, Immovable Property Development, and Government Owned Hospitality Sector. 
Selendiva Investments Limited, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shamahil Mohideen said that the intention of the new company is to make underperforming and underutilized assets more profitable. 

He said the properties identified for investments include the Grand Hyatt hotel in Colombo, Hilton Hotel, the Gaffoor Building, the building occupied by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Water’s Edge, The Ministry of Urban Development and Housing said that nine properties in and around Colombo City have been identified to be open for investments. 

Additional Secretary to the Ministry, Dr. Sugath Yalegama said that more properties will be added to the list later. 
He said the intention is to make the public-owned properties more profitable through private investments while the Government continues to control majority shares.  Under the new model, private investors will get 49 per cent of the shares while the Government holds 51 per cent.  Mohideen said that the 49 per cent will be open to a single investor or multiple investors. 

1. Intention is to make public-owned properties more profitable through private investments