Sun Siyam Pasikudah: Weaving luxury, culture, and community on Sri Lanka’s East Coast

Nestled on the serene eastern coastline of Sri Lanka, Sun Siyam Pasikudah is emerging not just as a luxury resort but as a beacon of curated experiences, community empowerment, and untapped potential.

- BY Nishel Fernando

In a landscape known for its tranquil, shallow waters and powder-white sands, the resort is scripting a compelling growth story, marked by a significant uptick in occupancies and a visionary approach to hospitality that deeply integrates local culture. This resurgence was recently showcased to a select group of journalists, offering a firsthand look into the property's ethos, led by its General Manager, Arshed Refai.

The resort, a tranquil oasis, a scenic six-hour drive from Colombo’ Bandaranaike International Airport, is capitalizing on the growing allure of Sri Lanka's east coast. It presents itself as an antidote to the bustling southern tourist trail, offering a quieter, more profound connection to nature and culture. As Refai explains, the clientele drawn to Pasikudah seeks something different.

“Mostly our clientele when they come, they always want to have a quality relaxing time to themselves,’ he notes, highlighting the resort's commitment to maintaining a peaceful ambiance. This unique positioning has paid dividends, with the resort witnessing a remarkable turnaround from leaner times.

“[ have had occupancy like zero for a whole week in the past’ Refai recalls." Thank God we are not in that level now.We at least averagely maintain a minimum of 30-35 percent occupancy throughout the day,which is actually very good”

‘This growth is fueled by a proactive strategy to position Pasikudah on the global stage. Following a recent brand relaunch, Refai personally engaged with top-tier tour operators in Europe.

“Itwas a good opportunity to talk about Sri Lanka with all the top tour operators; he stated. This international push is complemented by continuous public relations efforts, including hosting influencers and journalists from markets as far as the United States, which recently resulted in features across numerous online magazines.