Mahaweli Reach Hotel

The founder of Mahaweli Reach hotel in Kandy, Atul Panabokke, a tea planter by profession, embarked on this project in the early seventies, few would have believed that this venture could become a fledgling industry and would progress so far. His vision and commitment together with the able assistance of his wife and family laid the foundations for these remarkable achievements.

Commencing as a 4-room guesthouse where guests were welcomed and looked after by the owner, his gracious wife and sons, this enterprise has developed steadily. Firstly it was upgraded to a 23-room hotel and later to fifty rooms and finally renovated and repositioned as a 114-room 5-star hotel.

Still managed by the Panabokke family, Atul Panabokke's vision of a modern hotel which maintains the old world charm and hospitality seems to have become a reality. His sons, Jayantha, the Managing Director, and Mohan, the Director General Manager of the hotel have managed to combine the traditional, modern, and guided by their mother the current Chairperson of the Company, have developed a unique style of management.

In the recent years, the story of the Mahaweli Reach has taken yet another twist. The majority shareholding in the hotel today is held by the Universal Group of the Maldives, which is yet another family owned and managed company. The synergies created by this strategic alliance is considered especially beneficial, as the Universal Group is one of the largest hotel operators in the Maldives.

Today, the Mahaweli Reach Hotel remains a market leader enjoying a reputation for quality and excellence, unobtrusive charm and a warm hospitality, which comes from the heart.