Sri Lanka Opens First Fully Female-Staff Managed Resort in South Asia
Inspired by the iconic Sri Lankan novel Amba Yaluwo (Mango Friends) and the golden era of Sri Lankan cinema, this resort reflects both cultural heritage and modern sustainability. Built in the midst of a mango plantation with 457 TJC mango trees, the hotel boasts stunning views of Kandalama Lake and Sleeping Soldier Mountain.
Sri Lanka Opens First Fully Female-Staff Managed Resort in South Asia
The resort offers 33 luxurious rooms, a vegan restaurant, Ayurvedic treatments at the Ayurvie Spa, and yoga sessions. Designed with sustainability in mind, it features 157 solar panels covering 12,000 square feet, generating 140.40 kW of power, along with E-bike rides for eco-conscious travelers.
The resort’s Rs. 850 million development was completed in a record time of just seven months by the Thema Collection, a family-owned hospitality group that operates boutique hotels and resorts across Sri Lanka, including Aliya in Sigiriya and Maalu Maalu in Pasikuda.
With over 80 women on staff, the resort challenges the gender disparity in Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, where women make up less than 10% of the workforce despite global averages exceeding 50%. Acting French Ambassador for Sri Lanka Marie-Noelle Duris applauded the initiative, stating, “Giving women leadership in four-star hotels like this will inspire more women to join the industry and help close the gender gap.”
The French government has supported Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, especially after challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2019 Easter attacks. France remains Sri Lanka’s second-largest European tourism market, with visitors staying an average of 10 days and traveling during both summer and winter seasons.
Chairman Chandra Wickremesinghe explained that the concept of Amba Yaalu reflects the spirit of friendship, sustainability, and cultural appreciation. He added, “The global hotel chains in Sri Lanka lack women in leadership roles, which inspired us to create Amba Yaalu Kandalama.”
With its unique blend of cultural heritage, environmental consciousness, and female empowerment, Amba Yaalu Kandalama sets a new standard for hospitality in South Asia.
