Set amidst the green fields of rice and with water to surround is the enchanting new eco conscious hotel, the newest concept of a luxury hotel from the Jet Wings organisation. Last weekend it officially opened the doors to this fascinating property of a cluster of chalets set in typical rural surroundings.
The event was a gala affair of champagne and all that’s best in the hospitality field, Jet Wings hosted in style. Vil Uyana is a lifestyle hotel based on the concept of helping you experience nature, along with the comfort of a modern hotel, set in Sigiriya which is probably the location of the eighth wonder of the world. Sunela Jayawardene, the architect has created three tastefully designed environments to choose from. There are dwellings built over vast paddy fields, the Jala Mandapas or water dwellings built over water, and the forest dwellings built in the forest. Ideal are the surroundings of tranquil beauty to relax in, even though at the opening there was a hive of activity, at which were invitees from many fields from Ministers, Hoteliers the family and the media and friends T`he former Minister of Tourism and Member of Parliament W. J. M. Lokubandara made a complementary speech about Jetwing.
The invitation asked the guests to come in shades of paddy, which request many complied with. The pair that made the most successful impression were Vijith and Rochelle Kannangara. Vijith wore a sarong and a kurta style top in the colour of a golden sheaf of paddy, while his wife wore a skirt and top in the same colour and fabric. Rochelle’s top was simple in style, but her skirt featured a wide flared frill at the bottom with a trimming of ecru lace where the frill met the skirt to make a tiered effect. Dharshini Cooray, the wife of Hiran Cooray the CEO of Jetwings had her kura top in a off white embroidered in thread in shades of beige, bold and a hint of green while Anomi Jayasinghe had her camel toned raw silk suit with a tracery of embroidery at the neckline and edge of sleeves. Two outfits in white that scored a real success at noon were those worn by Mayanthi Samarasinghe and Angie Samuel. The pristine white shirt style top, the former wore was in simple white she brought noontime glamour to, with a several strand necklace of silver beads on fine chain and earstudes. She wore a single araliya in her hair.
Fresh and becoming was the white top the latter wore with a tracery of aquamarine embroidery on it and a beaten silver pendent and earrings. Angie was the compere for the event, which was a resounding success, which was a sure fire thing as all the details were seen to, turn it into a once in a lifetime opening. Provided with transport in luxury buses the media and other personnel were given right Royal treatment, beginning with the roadside breakfast served by boys and girls in village style garb of sarongs and banians with a bandana round their necks, and the girls in polka dotted cloth with white jackets, ‘hattes’ trimmed in the dotted fabric.
-The Sunday Island-
