Centara Hotels&Resorts of Thailand staged the grand opening of Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa Sri Lanka on May 29, 2014, with the ceremony presided over by His Excellency Mr. Mahinda Rajapksa, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

The resort is located on the Bentota Peninsula, at the southwest of the island, with the Bentota River on one side and the Indian Ocean on the other.

The resort`s arrival lounge is situated at Aluthgama, on the inland side of the river, with guests travelling across the water by barge, a journey that takes two minutes.

“The opening of this beautiful new resort, set in one of Sri Lanka`s most outstanding tourism destinations, is a proud moment for us,” said Thirayuth Chirathivat, chief executive officer of Centara Hotels & Resorts.

“We view Sri Lanka as being of great potential for us, and the island is part of our strategy for developing our market in the Indian Ocean region.”

Alexandre Glauser, area general manager of Centara Hotels & Resorts Sri Lanka, said that the hotel is ready with a full complement of staff to welcome its first guests.

“Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa is an outstanding property that will have both a romantic appeal for couples and lots of leisure attractions for families,” he said.

“For guests, the scene is set with the charming ride across the river on board our ferry, and no matter which room or suite they are staying, the view for guests will be stunning.”

The resort has 165 rooms and suites, including family residences, with all the accommodations featuring views across the river, or across the beach and the ocean.

Restaurant facilities include Café Bem, serving Sri Lankan and international cuisines along with buffets; 360 Seafood, which specialises in locally sourced seafood; and Ceylon Club, which serves refreshments and light meals throughout the day and evening.

Spa Cenvaree offers traditional Sri Lankan and Indian treatments along with its range of signature Thai therapies, there is a fitness center, an oceanfront swimming pool with Jacuzzi and a children`s pool, a water sports center, and a Kids` Club with separate zones for the youngsters and the teens.

The resort`s versatile events space can accommodate a wide-ranging number of functions including meetings, incentives groups, weddings and outdoor receptions, all supported by state of the art audiovisual equipment and the facilities available at the business center.

The resort is just a few minutes from Aluthgama railway station. Colombo is reached in less than two hours by road and Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport is 100 kilometers away from the resort.

Centara Hotels&Resorts is Thailand`s leading operator of hotels, with 46 deluxe and first-class properties covering all the major tourist destinations in the Kingdom.