Planning to offer the very best in hospitality, Citrus Leisure PLC., today launched Citrus Hikkaduwa - fulfilling the first 90 of Citrus Leisure's 600-room-promise to Sri Lanka.

Citrus Leisure entered the tourism industry in 2011 with a single property, Reefcomber, which was listed in the Colombo Stock Exchange, and along with ambitious plans to add 600 luxury rooms to Sri Lanka's room inventory over the next three years, has embarked on a programme to build and manage a chain of distinctive hotels and resorts which will in turn contribute towards the national economic growth of the country via tourism. Benchmarked against the most coveted in the world, these properties dot Sri Lanka's coastline in Hikkaduwa, Pasikudah, Kalpitiya and Waskaduwa; each of them as unique as their surroundings. What's more, in its drive to be at the forefront of Sri Lanka's tourism, the company's growing portfolio now encompasses not just these four beach front properties, but also an inbound and outbound travel operator – Citrus Vacations and an aquatic recreation specialist – Citrus Aqua which initiative will fill the void of a long felt need to optimise the use of the great Indian ocean and plentiful water-bodies in Sri Lanka .

Citrus Hikkaduwa, the first of the Citrus leisure properties, expanded and refurbished in a record five months to harness the potential of the peak tourism season, is now a 94 roomed resort at the heart of the most exciting coastal town. The refurbishment has seen the hotel bolstered by an additional forty rooms and now offers 51 standard rooms, 40 superior rooms and 2 suites. Added to the eclectic mix are a brand new 190 pax banquet hall, a 140-capacity restaurant – Lemon Fish, a tranquil Spa Ceylon and an exclusive wine and cigar bar – Summer Salt.

Speaking at the launch Chairman of Citrus Leisure PLC, Prema Cooray stated, "We are delighted that we have been able to launch the hotel well on time. Considering the excellent feedback we have received from guests who have been occupying the rooms since the hotel's soft launch in December last year, we are very confident that all our other properties will mirror this success and also be ready for occupation as per the scheduled time plan."

Mani Sugathapala, Director Marketing of Citrus Leisure also added that, "We are proud to have launched the first of several properties under the Citrus brand name. The entire team at Citrus is fully dedicated to deliver brand excellence and make a mark in Sri Lanka's hospitality industry. Through our efforts we hope to attract many superior tourists to the exciting town of Hikkaduwa."

Citrus Hikkaduwa now also offers a new experience in aquatic sports through Citrus Aqua which includes deep water fishing, diving, surfing and jet skiing, among many other activities. Nilantha Rupasinghe will lead the team at the hotel aided by the Director Operations Hemantha Ratnayake both of whom are well recognized hoteliers.