ITC Ratnadipa Opens on Colombo’s Seafront

ITC launched ITC Ratnadipa in Colombo on 25 April 2024, the Indian group’s first hotel outside India. The property stands on the Galle Face seafront between the Indian Ocean and Beira Lake, and its name translates as “island of gems”.

The development, representing an investment of about US$500 million by WelcomHotels Lanka, comprises two towers: the hotel and the Sapphire Residences. They hold 352 rooms, suites and serviced apartments, each with a private balcony facing the water. The towers are joined by Ahasa, a sky bridge 100 metres above ground, and the complex also has a helipad.

The design takes its cue from Sri Lanka’s national flower, the water lily. ITC commissioned work from Sri Lankan artists and photographers including Laki Senanayake, Sanjaya Seneviratne, Prasad Hettiarachchi and Dominic Sansoni, and the building was designed to target LEED Platinum certification.

There are nine restaurants and bars: Peshawri, serving North-West Frontier cuisine; Avartana; Yi Jing for Chinese food; Islander for seafood; the Indian Ocean Pavilion; Silvertips for high tea; Jala Anganaya, serving tropical juices and lighter dishes; and Ahasa, the bar and lounge set within the sky bridge.

Events are a large part of the brief. The hotel has 40,000 square feet of banqueting space, including the 15,000-square-foot pillarless Sangam Ballroom and an outdoor Panorama Deck for weddings. ITC chairman Sanjiv Puri said at the launch that Sri Lanka “has amazing tourism potential which is yet to be exploited”.

The hotel now trades as ITC Ratnadipa, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Colombo. Details are on the ITC Hotels website.