In 2004 businessman Malik Fernando bought Castlereagh, a decrepit bungalow in the terraced, emerald hills of Sri Lanka’s sprawling tea country. The structure had no roof. “It was in absolute shambles,” he recalls. “There were cattle roaming through the whole house.” But it had one irresistible asset: “It was what was available,” he says, shrugging and welcoming me to the …

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has broken ground on its first ever property in Sri Lanka. The company held a ceremony recently to mark the start of construction work on the Park Inn by Radisson Colombo. The event was attended by Sri Lanka’s Minister of Tourism Development, John Amaratunga, and Thorsten Kirschke, Carlson Rezidor’s president for Asia Pacific. Located on Galle …