Region’s first ‘All Women Managed’ Amba Yaalu Resort opens in Kandalama

Thema Collection’s Amba Yaalu Kandalama, South Asia’s first entirely women operated and managed resort opened last week redefining hospitality and female empowerment.

Acting Ambassador of France to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Marie-Noelle Duris said that globally the number of women participating in the leisure industry is over 50% but in Sri Lanka it is less than 10%.

“Giving women leadership to four star hotels of this nature will inspire more women to take to the industry and help to breach this gender gap,” she said.

Duris also said that France has been supporting the local travel industry and were among the first to come back after the C-19 pandemic, Easter Sunday attacks and Aragalaya and also through several local initiatives.

“France also is the second highest European market to Sri Lanka and their average stay is around 10 days.”

She also said that unlike traditional European Markets French tourists also visit Sri Lanka during summer (June to August) holidays in addition to winter and the strong Euro is a plus point for them to visit Sri Lanka.

“We observed that the global hotel chains that operate in Sri Lanka do not have women management at the top and this was one reason for us to create Amba Yaalu Kandalama,” said mentor behind the hotel, Chairman Chandra Wickremesinghe. We have invested around RS. 850 million for the hotel and it completed in record seven months.”

“The resort with 80 plus total women staff features 33 rooms with views of Kandalama Lake and the Sleeping Soldier Mountain highlighting Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage and it also offers a Vegan Restaurant, Ayurvedic treatments at the Ayurvie Spa, yoga sessions which are now in demand.”

Sustainability is a core principle at Amba Yaalu Kandalama, with the 457 tree TJC Mango Farm. The resort also supports renewable energy initiatives, with 157 solar panels installed over 12,000 square feet, generating 140.40 kW of power to minimize its environmental footprint. We also offer E-bike rides.”

Sri Lankan novel Amba Yaluwo (Mango Friends) and the golden era of Sri Lankan cinema inspired me to name this hotel as, Amba Yaalu.”

Thema Collection, a family-owned company, comprises boutique hotels, resorts, and retreats across Sri Lanka such as Aliya in Sigiriya, Maalu Maalu in Pasikuda, Kithala in Tissa and several plantation bungalows.

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