Property Of The Week

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT LEADS SRI LANKA’S REMARKABLE TRANSFORMATION

The ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’, Sri Lanka is experiencing a surge in real estate investment following a steady period of impressive economic growth over the past decade.  A vibrant democracy, political stability, a transparent and robust legal system based on the canons of the Laws of England, freedom for foreigners to invest, a transparent regulatory regime for free capital movements, a relatively benign tax environment, a peaceful South Asian region and an economy getting into a sustained growth all combine to put the spotlight on this island one of the top opportunities for real estate investments in emerging Asian economies. Extensive government investment and private consumption has helped deliver an impressive GDP growth of 4.5% according to World Bank estimates.

Sri Lanka’s capital city, Colombo, is one of the region’s fastest-growing commercial hubs. Located at the centre of major shipping routes connecting South Asia and the Far East with Europe, Africa and America, it enjoys enormous strategic importance and today the city is a base for numerous businesses and government institutions. Additionally, strong air connectivity and popularity for tourists have provided a solid foundation for the country’s transformation.

Sri Lanka’s high potential for tourism - and in particular luxury tourism - has spearheaded some major infrastructure projects such as Colombo International Financial Centre at the Port City reclamation, Megapolis and Beira Lake, as well as improvements in transport including new expressways, a new Colombo Light Railway (CLR)and airport expansion.

However, real estate is the big success story underpinning Sri Lanka’s growth. As the country seeks to ramp up its prominence among South Asian markets, GDP growth will be paralleled with growing salaries and with this comes an increase in demand for superior quality housing. Additionally, growing demand for quality office and commercial space from local and foreign businesses is spurring on private sector investment.  The proposed International Financial Centre at the Port City alone will add 5.65 million square metres of new mixed-use real estate.

Recently developers have brought luxury real estate in line with top global urban destinations and several new luxury and branded residential developments - including Cinnamon Life, Altair, Shangri-La at One Galle Face and Ritz-Carlton at The One - have been springing up across the city, with more in the pipeline. Attracted by the strong economic growth, developers from further afield are increasingly setting their sights on Sri Lanka, especially Colombo; in addition to substantial existing Chinese investment in Colombo, Japanese firm Belluna Co. recently announced plans to invest US$500 million in real estate developments here.

The city’s latest high-end residential offering, Sapphire Residences, is the city’s most exclusive residential development. Described as “the jewel in Colombo’s crown” and the city’s “most talked about address”, Sapphire Residences is set to redefine luxury vertical living in the Indian Ocean region. Located on the prestigious Galle Face oceanfront at Colombo’s epicentre, it comprises 132 exclusive private residences averaging a voluminous 5,000 square feet living area with extraordinary floor to ceiling heights (penthouses are 9,325 square feet), with stunning 180° panoramic views of the city, lake and ocean, floor-to-ceiling windows and extensive leisure facilities for residents that span an impressive 40,000 square feet.

The first overseas project by luxury Indian hotelier ITC Hotels (operating through ITC’s 100% subsidiary WelcomHotels Lanka (Private) Limited), this distinctive development is set to become a globally recognised landmark for the city; the iconic design was the brainchild of a world-class international team lead by U.S. architectural firm Gensler, which created the two distinctive parallel towers connected by a sky bridge, with the residential interiors by London-based YOO working with Philippe Starck in Paris and landscaping by Burega Farnell in Singapore.

Sotheby’s Sri Lanka’s Director Charles Phillpot comments: “We have started to preview the Sapphire Residences to HNW buyers in Colombo and the consistent response is ‘WOW!’”. ITC Hotels has raised the bar to a new level for the region and created ‘uber-luxury’ apartments that offer a superlative living experience in South Asia. The mixed-use development includes a private Residents’ Club offering over 40,000 sq. ft. of extraordinary leisure amenities for homeowners and their guests. Conceptualised by YOO Inspired by Starck, these include several swimming pools, cinema, residents’ Clubhouse with lounge and library, amphitheatre, spa, gymnasium and fitness centre, yoga room, indoor squash, table tennis and multi-purpose sports courts.

Currently under construction with completion expected in 2021, the development comprises a 224-metre-tall residential tower set alongside a 140-metre-tall 5star ITC hotel. Connecting the two buildings at the 19th-21st levels is a 54-metre long sky bridge, which incorporates a stunning bar and lounge with spectacular views on the lower level and on top are two infinity pools and a sunbathing deck.  The adjacent ITC hotel is crowned by a helipad (the only one being in the vicinity) for not only VIPs, guests and residents, but also for medical and other emergencies.

The development’s proximity to the International Financial Centre in the forthcoming Port City and its commanding location on Colombo’s most exclusive Central Business District strip, owning a home at Sapphire Residences ensure that residents are ideally placed to keep a finger on the pulse of international finance, trade and commerce.

Priced from around US$1.4 million, Sapphire Residences are scheduled to launch onto the market in Q3 2018 with Sotheby’s International Realty.

For further information visit www.sapphireresidences.lk