Have you ever been to Sri Lanka? It is a country like no other, in my opinion, and one of the most underrated tourist destinations in the world.
Now that travel is back in full swing, the country is looking to capitalize on that as tourism is a major part of the country’s economy. To find out more, we spoke to Malik J. Fernando, the Managing Director of Resplendent Ceylon. The group is home to a collection of luxury Sri Lankan boutique resorts and the hospitality arm of Dilmah Tea. He is also the second-generation owner of Dilmah Tea, first founded by his father, Merrill Fernando in 1988.
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Resplendent Ceylon boasts three unique experiential resorts, all set in diverse terrains ranging from mountainous jungles to roaring waterfalls and lush green tea fields, providing an opportunity for guests to dwell in the scenic and evocative Sri Lankan experience.
The resorts aim to be every traveller’s gateway to the land of paradise by presenting the culinary, natural, and cultural heritage of the island in all its glory through fascinating narratives that define Sri Lanka.
Could you tell us more about Resplendent Ceylon and what can travellers expect?
Founded in 2005, Resplendent Ceylon is home to a collection of exceptional boutique resorts that form a unique journey across the tropical island of Sri Lanka. With three Relais & Chateaux properties nestled across the island’s varied landscapes, each with its own unique character and charm, Resplendent Ceylon is the benchmark for timeless escapes in pristine locations, combined with authentic luxury.
From a journey back in time to the heyday of Ceylon Tea at the world’s first tea bungalow resort, Ceylon Tea Trails, to the coveted clifftop destination, Cape Weligama, and finally the opportunity to be immersed in the beauty of the wilderness at Wild Coast Tented Lodge, our iconic resorts offer visitors luxurious retreats to connect with nature while immersed in the rich heritage of Sri Lanka.
Can you suggest some sights/activities that tourists should visit when travelling to Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka is rich in ancient culture awaiting exploration. My recommendation would be to first visit the country’s historic Cultural Triangle which stretches over Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, and Dambulla, the gateway to many historical and religious sites in the first two ancient cities and the cave temples of Dambulla. The Cultural Triangle is a reminder of the golden age of our Buddhist civilisation. From there move southwards to the panoramic Ceylon tea highlands – much of Sri Lanka’s commercial history is rooted in the art of tea production.
Why the focus on sustainability for the resorts?
The core of Resplendent Ceylon has always been our pristine locations and the belief that business must be a matter of human service. Sri Lanka’s diverse terrains and lush greenery have always fascinated travellers and are an integral part of the Resplendent Ceylon resort experience. Helping ensure the way we operate does not cause adverse effects on our ecosystems and the communities within them resonates with our core beliefs.
Nature and the communities here should flourish along with the resorts. This is why we honour the ‘sense of place’ here in Sri Lanka by reflecting on the country’s history, society, and culture, and supporting the tea-planting communities through the MJF Foundation.
We focus on conserving our biodiversity, and the food systems it feeds and ensure we responsibly use what mother nature has granted us. The idea here is regenerative travel, and we have a vision for our operations to not only be sustainable but also to leave behind regenerated systems for generations to come.
Could you share more about the conservation efforts going on at the Peak Ridge Forest Corridor?
The Peak Ridge Forest Corridor is one of the largest conservation initiatives Resplendent Ceylon has spearheaded, focused on conserving the highland leopard population. Along with the Wilderness and Wildlife Conservation Trust (WWCT), Dilmah Tea and several other tea estates, we embarked in 2021 on a private sector collaboration to enhance biodiversity on an 18km mountain ridge between the Castlereagh and Moussakelle reservoirs, near the Ceylon Tea Trails.
This landmark initiative is the first of its kind in Sri Lanka, with private stakeholders coming together to protect biodiversity beyond the traditional box of protected areas designated, created, and operated by the government.
This initiative was birthed in 2016 when several leopards fell victim to snares along the ridge, outside the protected area of the Peak Wilderness National Park. We conducted multiple studies to study the movement of leopards before deciding to create this private protected area to safeguard the highland leopard, a keystone species.
One of the elements of the program is a reforestation program, The Tea Trails team has identified locations within Dilmah’s Dunkeld estate where thousands of trees are being planted to increase forest cover for the leopards and their prey while reintroducing native tree species which had been removed to plant pine for timber decades ago.
How has tourism rebounded after the political upheaval a few months ago?
Sri Lanka has been operating normally for Tourism since July 2022 although we have not communicated that adequately as a country. Arrivals have increased with 260,000 visitors from the start of the year till mid-March. We also plan to attract 1.55 million visitors in 2023. Given how much Sri Lanka has to offer to many different types of travellers, I expect we will exceed the target.
What are some of the things you’d like to share with potential visitors to the island?
Sri Lanka has so much to offer – it really is a treasure chest with a continent’s worth of attractions on a small island. It is a wonderful quick escape from busy urban lives. Our award-winning resorts provide the perfect sanctuary to unwind and immerse yourself in nature with amazing service and food. True luxury in my view.
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What’s next for Resplendent Ceylon?
Resplendent Ceylon will continue to be the flag bearer for authentic luxury experiences on this amazing island. We recently opened two small Beach House style resorts under our new Reverie Collection – Ahu Bay and Kayaam House. A treehouse resort is under development in the cultural triangle. To provide a truly experiential journey across my island home, closely connected with our biodiversity and local communities is my goal and we are well on the way there!
