COLOMBO, July 2019: Sri Lanka’s state-owned Board of Investment (BOI) has signed an agreement with Germany’s Melchers Group to construct a mega family entertainment park in the capital Colombo, which will further enhance the tourism industry, a key foreign exchange earner for the island nation.
In a statement, the BOI said the project will be carried out by the Melchers Group to construct the Fantasy Island, with at an investment of USD $ 4 million.
“We believe in the local and international tourism industry of Sri Lanka,” said Alexander Melchers, managing director of the Melchers Group in South-East Asia and founding investor of the entertainment park. “Sri Lanka has made great progress to build hotels and infrastructure. Now, the Fantasy Island is the beginning of the next development phase of the tourism industry.”
“We will provide a purpose-built, state-of-the-art family entertainment attraction to cater for international and local tourists and residents. I am very confident in the business outlook in Sri Lanka. We represent German, Singaporean, and Swiss investors who believe in the long term potential of Sri Lanka,” Mr. Melchers added. The Melchers Group, active in Sri Lanka for over 35 years, combines local expertise with international entertainment experience for development and operations.
Representing the elements air, sea, and land, Fantasy Island, which will become Colombo’s premier family entertainment center located at Waters Edge in Battaramulla, will feature a 40-meter Ferris wheel, an indoor snow experience, and a big waterplay area including water slides.
With brand new equipment exclusively from European suppliers, the park will provide plenty of fun and educational activities while ensuring the highest quality and safety standards.
“In phase 1, the investment of more than US$4 million will bring inclusive attractions for the entire family which are truly unique to Sri Lanka. Fantasy Island will create over 60 employment and career development opportunities for the community”, said Michael Perera, Chairman of CMC Engineering Export, the Sri Lankan branch of the Melchers Group.
The project developer and operator, Fantasy Island (Private) Limited, expects to do the project’s ground breaking within two to three months and is confident that the entertainment park will open its doors to the public within one year.
