Experience a charming vacation at these green hotels in Sri Lanka

If you’re looking for a vacation that’s as beautiful as it is environmentally conscious, Jetwing Hotels in Sri Lanka can be an ideal choice. These exquisite hotels and villas are at the forefront of sustainable tourism, with eco-centered accommodations that blend seamlessly into the natural environment.

From the moment you step onto the property, you’ll be surrounded by lush greenery and breathtaking views, all while knowing that your stay is having a positive impact on the planet.

Jetwing’s commitment to sustainability has been a part of its vision since the beginning, almost 50 years ago, and it shows in every aspect of its operation.

Hospitality cannot exist isolated from the local communities and the environment.

– Herbert Cooray, Founding Chairman of Jetwing Hotels

Innovative green initiatives at Jetwing Hotels

Despite the detrimental effects of the pandemic on the tourism industry, Jetwing Hotels pursued new ways to upkeep its green mission.

With the environment, their employees, and the local community in mind, the hotel group utilized their unused land across their 34 properties to grow crops. This ingenious idea both fed the island, created much-needed community spirit, paid their employees’ wages, and created some revenue to keep their eco-tourism hotels afloat.

Innovative solutions to support the environment and local communities are a common trait across Jetwing destinations.

Jetwing Kaduruketha in Wellawaya has long been practicing eco-agriculture and is a staple agro-tourism destination.

While using traditional and organic farming practices for pest control and nutrient management, they have also re-popularized heritage species of rice, such as suwandel, pachchaperumal, and kahawanu. The rice grown is provided and sufficient for all the Jetwing hotels and villas. The hotel group also carries out all food production in-house.

Embracing biodiversity

Being an island, Sri Lanka holds many of its own unique species of fauna. Sadly, the country is experiencing a rapid decline in biodiversity in recent times because of human-wildlife conflicts.

Jetwing works to counter this by embracing biodiversity and doing its utmost to uphold the rich biodiversity of the island state. In particular, Jetwing Vil Uyana in Sigiriya is a wildlife sanctuary creating a natural harmony of habitats — a completely man-made environment in what was once an abandoned paddy field.

They have massively increased species diversity over the last 15 years, with the number of mammals increasing from 12 to 27, birds from 29 to 148, and butterflies from 24 to 51.

There was also an enormous increase in reptiles and amphibians from three to 44. Introducing a man-made wetland that incorporates contemporary comforts with rural haven made this possible.

Sustainable energy

All of Jetwing’s accommodations allow guests to feel responsible while relaxing in tropical luxury.

Approximately three-quarters of energy used across all destinations is created self-sufficiently, primarily with the use of biomass boilers fuelled by cinnamon wood. The hotel group chose cinnamon wood as it is one of four sustainable fuel wood species and an otherwise discarded by-product of the cinnamon spice industry. It also provides an additional source of income to local cinnamon farmers.

Jetwing Lagoon, set on the stunning Negombo Lagoon, uses 20KW of off-grid energy. The hotel has won countless sustainable energy awards over the years.

The revitalizing and spiritual Jetwing Kandy Gallery, surrounded by mystic waterfalls set centrally amongst the colonies of Hanthane and Matale mountain ranges, uses a magnificent 90.5KW off-grid energy.

Other green strategies

This relatively small group of hotels annually treats and reuses enough wastewater to fill 114 Olympic-size swimming pools and eliminate close to 4,000 kilos of plastic waste by producing 343,045 glass water bottles.

Through the use of solar panels, Jetwing Hotels avoided carbon dioxide emissions to the tune of 661 MT, equivalent to carbon dioxide absorbed by over 29,000 trees.

The preservation of the local communities is as important to them as that of the divine natural beauty of the island. Sri Lanka was devasted by a tsunami, claiming the lives of 30,000 people. This natural disaster haunts many survivors as well as blanketed fear over many small disadvantaged communities.

Jetwing Lighthouse, after discovering many would not have lost their lives had they known how to swim, took the initiative to form The Lighthouse Community Pool Trust. By transforming a pool to be available exclusively to 26 schools in the area, they have now given many children the opportunity to be taught to swim for free.

Jetwing’s collection of stunning green hotels in Sri Lanka is second to none when it comes to the perfect balance of sustainability and exotic luxury.

If you are looking to discover a new way to travel in comfort while being responsible, Jetwing promises to exceed expectations.

Editor’s note: We love and admire hotels and resorts that have committed to sustainability. If you are aware of any eco-friendly properties, let us know at editor@travelasianow.net so we can showcase their remarkable dedication towards a greener future.