HOTEL LANKA OBEROI OCCUPIES A SPECIAL PLACE IN SRI LANKA’S MODERN HOSPITALITY HISTORY.
By: Kamar Hameem
Hotel Lanka Oberoi, a five-star hotel was officially opened on the 18th of September 1975 by the world’s first female Prime Minister, Hon. Sirimavo Bandaranaike, for its moment of glory marking the beginning of a remarkable chapter in Colombo’s hotel industry. Among the distinguished guests at the opening ceremony were T. B. Ilangaratne, then Minister of Trade and Commerce. At the time, the hotel was under the Ministry of Trade and Commerce, while the property was owned by the Asian Hotel Corporation, which was founded in 1969. Another prominent guest was P.R.S. “Biki” Oberoi whose organization was responsible for managing the hotel from its inception.
PREPARING FOR THE HISTORIC 1976 SUMMIT
The opening of Hotel Lanka Oberoi in 1975 came just one year before another landmark development in Colombo. The Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) was completed in 1976, following its construction as a gift from the People’s Republic of China. The BMICH was officially opened by Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike and became the principal venue for the Fifth Non-Aligned Movement Conference, held in Colombo from 16 to 19 August 1976. It was a historic occasion and a major diplomatic event for Sri Lanka, bringing together leaders, foreign ministers, delegates and observers from more than 86 countries. Among the prominent world leaders who visited Sri Lanka for the summit were Colonel Muammar Gaddafi of Libya, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, Cuban President Fidel Castro, Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito, Algerian President Houari Boumediene, Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda, Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Cypriot President Archbishop Makarios III, and Syrian President Hafez al-Assad. Hotel Lanka Oberoi played a vital role in accommodating many of these distinguished visitors. The hotel was filled to capacity, with heads of state, foreign ministers, personal security teams, protocol officers and other members of foreign delegations occupying its rooms.
A HOTEL AT THE CENTRE OF HISTORY
The Lanka Oberoi Hotel also hosted its first ever important official functions of grandeur of an array of World Leaders attending during the Non-Aligned Summit in 1976. One of the most memorable occasions was the State Banquet held in the Golden Ballroom at the hotel, hosted by the Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike. A cocktail reception was also held in the hotel atrium. It was just a one-way street with more and more VIP dignitaries being hosted by constantly expanding and improving services and a growing band of well trained and efficient personnel, who were as proud to be a part of Sri Lanka’s first Five-Star Hotel. Most of the employees contributed years of loyal service and formed lasting bonds of friendship and camaraderie amongst themselves. The hotel’s food and beverage banquet and service staff had been specially trained by expatriate Oberoi managers and local managers who got their training at the Oberoi School of Hotel Management in New Delhi India, in preparation for the demanding international event at the hotel. Their professionalism and meticulous service were essential during a period when the hotel was operating under extraordinary pressure. Hotel Lanka Oberoi later had the distinction of hosting another prestigious royal occasion when it welcomed Queen Elizabeth II for a Royal Banquet in 1981.
COLOMBO UNDER TIGHT SECURITY
The 1976 Non-Aligned Movement Conference transformed Colombo into a heavily secured diplomatic Centre. Many major roads were closed to ordinary traffic during the summit, including routes connecting Galle Road, Fort, Collpetty, and the BMICH. Only authorized and official vehicles were permitted on many roads, while residents were issued special passes for essential travel and emergencies. Because public transport was severely restricted, hotel employees were provided with in-house accommodation so that they could remain on duty throughout the summit. Security at Hotel Lanka Oberoi was exceptionally strict. Every entrance and exit was closely guarded by security personnel. Hotel employees were issued special Non-Aligned Movement identity cards, and staff were required to display their identification while moving within and around the hotel. Access and movement were carefully controlled even outside normal working hours.
MEMORIES OF WORLD LEADERS
One of the most memorable episodes for the hotel staff was the arrival of Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. His visit attracted considerable attention and official protocol personnel distributed portrait photographs of the Libyan leader. From 16 to 19 August 1976, Hotel Lanka Oberoi was exceptionally lively. Cultural events and official activities took place whenever visiting Heads of State arrived. For the hotel employees, it was an extraordinary opportunity to see, meet and serve some of the most influential political leaders of the era. Special vehicles were imported for the occasion to transport the visiting dignitaries between the airport, Hotel Lanka Oberoi and the BMICH. Holden HJ vehicles were provided for some of the Heads of State, while Peugeot 504 vehicles were used for other distinguished guests and delegations. The hotel’s food-and-beverage outlets operated around the clock to meet the demands of the international gathering. Staff worked long and demanding hours, yet the occasion provided them with a unique sense of pride and privilege.
FROM LANKA OBEROI TO CINNAMON GRAND
Hotel Lanka Oberoi initially had 266 rooms. A further 110 rooms were subsequently constructed adjoining the original building, in preparation for the arrival of Heads of State and foreign delegations attending the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Conference in Colombo in 1976. The hotel’s management contract with the Asian Hotel Corporation ended in 2003. It was briefly renamed Colombo Plaza before John Keells Holdings took over the property and transformed it into Cinnamon Grand Colombo, which became one of the group’s flagship hotels. In August 2025, the Hotel Lanka Oberoi Reunion celebrated its Golden Jubilee at the hotel’s own Golden Ballroom, now part of Cinnamon Grand Colombo. The reunion brought together former Oberoi staff members, along with General Manager Mr. Kamal Munasinghe, providing an opportunity to recall the hotel’s remarkable early years.
A GOLDEN ERA NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN
For those who worked at the Hotel Lanka Oberoi during this historic period, the 1976 Non-Aligned Movement Conference remains an unforgettable chapter in their professional and personal lives. The hotel was not merely a place where distinguished guests stayed; it became part of one of the most important diplomatic events ever hosted in Sri Lanka.
Looking back five decades later, the memories of those extraordinary days remain vivid; the arrival of world leaders, the unprecedented security arrangements, the cultural events, the official banquets, the long working hours and above all, the pride of being part of a historic occasion. The story of Hotel Lanka Oberoi is therefore more than the story of a five-star hotel. It is a story intertwined with Sri Lanka’s hospitality heritage, international diplomacy and the golden era of Colombo in the 1970’s; a chapter that former employees and those who witnessed it will cherish for generations. The era under the gentle guidance of the past General Managers could truly be called the primetime of our existence; the hotel got easily recognized as the best 5 Star hotel in Sri Lanka
STATE BANQUET IN HONOUR OF VISITING HEAD OF THE STATES AND DELEGATIONS FOR THE FIFTH NON-ALIGNED CONFERENCE 1976 AT HOTEL LANKA OBEROI
Hotel Lanka Oberoi
BMICH
