US-based restaurant franchise TGI Fridays opened its first outlet in Colombo adjacent to the Dutch Hospital shopping precinct.

The result of a franchise agreement with Cargills (Ceylon) PLC, the restaurant was declared open by Secretary to the Ministry of Defense and Urban Development, Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

A member of the Carlson Group, TGI Fridays operates 920 restaurants in over 60 countries and is known for its signature appearance, quality casual dining and an emphasis on alcoholic beverages.

 The restaurant is situated in a colonial-era building renovated and developed by Cargills under the directives of the Urban Development Authority (UDA), which is under the purview of the Defense Ministry.

Also representing the KFC franchise in Sri Lanka, TGI Fridays represents a further diversification for Cargills into the entertainment dining segment.