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Sri Lanka Army

Defender of the Nation

'Laya' Hotel Chain Sets Up Its Colombo Head Office

Popular ‘Laya’ Hotels of the Army which were introduced as a mammoth fund-raiser welfare project for Army personnel a few years ago, took a giant leap forward and opened its Colombo-based Head Office for Administrative / Reservation services on Wednesday (8) evening with the objective of turning the project to be of more customer-friendly, competitive and vibrant.

Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva, Commander of the Army as the Chief Guest for the opening ceremony inaugurated the new office complex of the ‘Laya’ Hotel Chain which is responsible for management of those attractive holiday resorts, ‘Laya’ Waves, ‘Laya’ Leisure, ‘Laya’ Safari and ‘Laya’ Beach at the invitation of the Directorate of Army Welfare, the wing which uses those profits for welfare of Army personnel and their family members, including those fallen and disable.  

Chief Guest, Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva as the auspicious minute struck, unveiled a plaque, cut a ribbon, and warmed the new complex before lighting the traditional oil lamp inside the new complex.

Chief of Staff, Major General Jagath Dias, Deputy Chief of Staff and President, Board of Management, Laya Hotel Chain, Major General E.M.M Ambanpola, Adjutant General, Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe, Chief Executive Officer, Board of Management, Laya Hotel Chain, Major General Mahesh Senanayake, Military Secretary, Major General R.V Udawatte, Director General Financial Management, Major General Kamal Gunaratne, Master General Ordnance, Major General R. Rathnasingham, Quarter Master General, Mr Trevor Reckerman, Management Consultant for Laya Hotel Chain, together with the Commander of the Army, lit the traditional oil lamp.          

The new Head Office to be manned by tourist sector professionals and managed by a state-of-the-art administrative network is to serve as the central bureau to coordinate management and reservations, related to those ‘Laya’ resorts in Kalkuda, Kukuleganga, Yala and Wadduwa.

    Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva soon after the opening took time off to personally supervise each segment in the office and exchanged a few words with the staff and other senior officers serving it.

The occasion turned more important after the Commander was invited to launch the re-designed ‘Laya’ Hotel Chain website (www.layahotels.lk) and the new ‘Laya’ Hotel Loyalty Card.  The first copy of the loyalty card was presented to the Commander, together with a symbolic memento of appreciation.

The establishment of the ‘Laya’ Hotel Chain office at No 31, Kew Road, off Malay Street, Colombo 2 was made possible following directions given by the Commander of the Army who realized the importance of managing the chain from one central point.     

At the introductory stage, the Loyalty Card Holders will enjoy a discount of 15% on their total hotel bill. With the opening of the new Head Office, those wishing to make reservations can directly contact the new office on Malay Street, Colombo 02.

The brief ceremony came to an end with the exit of the Commander, having placed his signature in the VIP visitors’ book.  

Director Welfare, Brigadier D.A.R. Ranawaka, Invitees from the Tourism Industry, members of the Board of Management, ‘Laya’ Hotel Chain and a gathering of senior officers were present at the occasion.
 
Launched and re-branded in 2012, the ‘Laya’ Hotel chain which is open to both Army personnel and the public, maintains a landmark in the sphere of Army welfare while contributing simultaneously to Sri Lanka’s growing competitive hotel industry and  is managed under the Directorate of Welfare.