President Mahinda Rajapaksa was the Chief Guest at the ground breaking ceremony of Aitken Spence Hotels’ new venture, ‘RIU Resort, Ahungalla’.

The 501-room resort hotel, which is expected to reach completion by mid 2016, is a US $ 100 million project, planned through a joint partnership between RIU Hotels & Resorts, Spain and Aitken Spence.

This project is launched on a unique platform, which takes into consideration the government’s southern development programmes namely infrastructure such as the southern highway and the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport.

Aitken Spence Chairman Harry Jayawardena said the timing of the hotel’s opening would be right since the Southern Highway to Hambantota is expected to reach completion by that time.

“We have the Mattala Airport facility already in place, giving us an ideal mix for our business model. Aitken Spence has always encouraged infrastructure development in the country and our investment is proof of our confidence and support to government’s development plans.

The strategy for all our beach resorts in the South including the new RIU Resorts is in line with the government’s vision for further development of the country, especially in the tourism segment.”

Jayawardena stated that today the climate had changed considerably and with five years into the end of the war, it is the responsibility of the private sector to reap the peace dividends; especially since the current government has delivered on their promise on infrastructure development.

“That a lot has been done and more is being done is clearly evident. Therefore it is now our turn to deliver on our promise. We have delivered on the promise of developing overseas, and continue to do so in Sri Lanka. RIU Hotels & Resorts is a giant step in that direction.”

The international RIU chain traces its history back to 1953, when it was founded by the Riu family in Mallorca. The company boasts of more than 100 properties in 16 countries catering to 3.2 million guests a year.