Mariott hotel not mine: MR

14 May 2015 11:20 am

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa today denied reports that the Ceylon Steel Corporation and the Mariott hotel in Dubai were his property, which were ‘paper owned’ by a frontman.

Mr. Rajapaksa in a statement said the FCID had filed a B-Report informing the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court that they have commenced investigations into a complaint that a sum of USD 48 million was invested in the Steel Corporation and another USD 190 million was invested in the Dubai Mariott hotel which purportedly belongs to Rajapaksa.

“The FCID which functions as an extension of the UNP may have filed this B-report to convey to the public the false impression that there is a ‘court case’ relating to concealed assets owned by me. It will be useful for my opponents to spread such a perception among the public with a general election in the offing. This is yet another clever and insidious way of carrying out false propaganda against me,” he said

According to Mr. Rajapaksa, the B-report had stated that the FCID had commenced this investigation on the basis of an anonymous letter and that it was very unusual for the police to report to courts that they are carrying out an investigation on the basis of such a letter.

“The FCID has been set up with a view to harassing political opponents and the legality and propriety of the establishment of this unit is already before the Supreme Court.I wish to inform the public that the Steel Corporation and the Dubai Mariott hotel belong to whoever owns them and not by me,” said, Mr. Rajapaksa. (LSP)
 

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Marriott Al Jaddaf Hotel in Dubai is the very first five star property built and owned by a single Sri Lankan living outside Sri Lanka.

The Dubai Marriott Hotel Al Jaddaf is the first Middle East and African property to open as per the new brand transformation that the ‘Marriott’ brand has been going through globally since last year.


This includes not only a new logo which keeps the iconic ‘M’, while modernizing its overall appeal, but also an ongoing innovation throughout its hotels around the world, with re-designed lobbies and public spaces known as ‘Greatrooms’ and introducing a mobile check-in application, all of which are rapidly being deployed for the next generation of travellers who blend work and play, demand style and substance, and require technology, and feature in the new Dubai Marriott Hotel Al Jaddaf.

Marriott Hotels has also launched a multi-year campaign called Travel Brilliantly’ (www.travelbrilliantly.com); all done in a bold move to amplify the brand’s dedication to the future of travel.

Built according to the international standards of the managing partner of the property, Marriott USA is one of the largest Hotel Chains in the world, by Sri Lankan entrepreneur Nandana Lokuwithana, the Chairman ONYX Group of UAE.

Mr. Lokuwithana who operates diversified businesses in Dubai and Sri Lanka has invested US$ 225 million (approximately Rs. 2.9 billion) for the Marriott Al Jaddaf Hotel project. He is also the current owner of ‘Oruwala Ceylon Steel Corporation Limited’ and the ‘Ceylon Heavy Industries and Construction Co Ltd.’ in Sri Lanka.

Marriott Al Jaddaf Hotel will be officially opened on September 15 in Dubai. The soft opening of the hotel was held last January.

The Dubai Marriott Hotel Al Jaddaf has 352 rooms across eight floors with 192 Deluxe King and 107 Deluxe Double rooms, including 39 Executive Suites, two Zabeel Suites and an exceptional luxury Presidential Suite. Each space is designed for functionality and leisure with state-of-the-art technology, wired and wireless Internet and spacious amenities.

The hotel also offers 14 elegant,meeting rooms as well as the magnificent Zabeel ballroom, which can accommodate up to a maximum of 540 persons.

The property boasts seven distinct restaurants, lounges and bars. Offering cuisines from around the world including Asian, European, Middle Eastern and a new American/Scottish concept, the hotel caters to the most discerning connoisseur and to guests looking for a relaxed meal.

Marriott Executive Apartments Dubai Al Jaddaf is the brand’s sixth property in the region; with a further six set to open across the Middle East and Africa by 2017. Introduced in 1997 to the Marriott International portfolio, Marriott Executive Apartments is the company’s only corporate apartment brand designed to provide upscale residential living.

Personalized service and the assurance of a Marriott experience allow guests to  achieve what they need to in an environment that has all the comforts of home. Marriott Executive Apartments Dubai Al Jaddaf has 128 fully furnished apartments including one, two and three bedrooms providing the space, ambience and privacy of a home away from home.

Assistant General Manager of Marriott Al Jaddaf Hotel, Wael Farouk said that since the soft opening in January the hotel has been maintaining over 55% average occupancy for over 90% for the apartments.

‘Our advance bookings indicate that we would do an average 90% for the first year’ he added.

Born and bred in Medawachchiya, a rural village in Anuradhapura Disrtict, Nandana Lokuwithana is a down to earth gentleman with a true Sri Lankan touch in his entire business. ‘Marriott Al Jaddaf Hotel has employed more than 10 % Sri Lankan expacts out of its 550 total employees. Most of them are top level management positions.

Lokuwithana said that this was his first leisure sector investment and he wanted a strong partner in this type of business and this was the main reason he selected Marriott.



‘Marriott is a strong brand and they even continued on during the Middle Eastern economic crises’ He said that he was confident with the influx of tourists to Dubai and with the promotions of the country and destination; he could recover the return on investment in less than nine years.


Marriott Hotel is now offering special discounted packages for Sri Lankan travellers, who are keen on going to Dubai for leisure and for shopping.
Manager of Marriott Hotel Al Jaddaf, Khaled Al Jammal said that they are offering a bed and breakfast (double) package for less than US $ 190. ‘Since our hotel is five star this is a very attractive offer,’ he said.

‘In addition the hotel would also arrange a UAE tourist visa for Sri Lankans. We offer discounted packages for groups and families’ said Rajapaksha M. Piyadasa, the Director of Services of the Hotel. Marriott Hotel Al Jaddaf Hotel also has many conference venues targeting the MICE market, corporate and private functions.


‘This, I am sure will attract Sri Lankan business communities too’ he said. Sales Manager, Mustafa Kattan stated that Marriott Hotel is a mere 10 minutes from Dubai International Airport, Dubai Mall and the Gold Souk. ‘We also have regular free shuttle services to these places,’ he added.

The hotel is the second building in the UAE after the Sri Lankan Embassy to carry the Sri Lankan National Flag.