A Japanese business delegation came here on an invitation by Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Ravi Karunanayake has expressed their interest in taking over the Grand Oriental hotel in Colombo, which is one of the oldest hotels in South Asia.

The Chairman of the Crown Plaza Hotels and Resorts, Shinobu Hasegawa and President/CEO Ryohei Shikokawa who met the Minister recently said that they had completed successful initial discussions with the owners, Bank of Ceylon and the Finance Ministry officials about the acquisition of more than hundred years old hotel. Karunanayake had earlier met Mr. Hasegawa and Shikokawa in his Japan visit last year and invited them to Sri Lanka to probe through business opportunities.

Shikokawa said that he was impressed with the standards of GOH and emphasised the importance of maintaining high standards to attract quality conscious Japanese tourists.

He said that his company is also interested in setting up an Ayurvedic resort in Japan and an arrangement had been made with Sathosa Ltd. to promote Sri Lankan health food in Japan.

The Minister told the Japanese delegation that the government has a major plan to expand tourism under the re gain Sri Lanka programme where several new areas including north west, eastern and south east coastal belts had been identified to develop as tourists destinations in future.