Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts has broken ground on its new hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo will be located between the Galle Face green promenade and Beira Lake, with uninterrupted views of the Indian Ocean. 

The Hong Kong-based group announced the purchase of ten acres of government land in January 2011 and is targeting to open the property in mid-2015.

The hotel will be easily accessible from Colombo International Airport in 45 minutes by car.

Shangri-La is also developing a second property, a 315-key city resort on approximately 145 acres of land in Hambantota, on the southern coast of Sri Lanka.

Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo will be built according to sustainability guidelines, with 661 rooms offering some of the largest accommodation in town at 45 square metres to 55 square metres (484 square feet to 592 square feet).

This also includes 43 suites ranging in size from 90 square metres to 225 square metres (968 square feet to 2,421 square feet).

A wide range of restaurant concepts features a sushi bar, steakhouse, seafood market, Indian restaurant, Islamic restaurant as well as a sky lounge on the top floor.

The all day dining venue will offer various food concepts throughout the day including Straits Spice Market, a Szechuan and a Macanese restaurant. 

A take-out deli, Irish pub, tea lounge and wine/cigar room will round out the culinary offer.

The Sri Lankan properties will be fully integrated into the local community from the very beginning, offering employment opportunities and infrastructural support.

In addition, both properties will adopt Embrace, Shangri-La’s Care for People Project, and will work with local children’s organisations on health or education programmes over a long-term period in need areas such as school materials, infrastructure improvement, hygiene and nutrition. 

The hotel is in the process of identifying eligible schools within Colombo.