• Latest
  • Trending

Malayali family brings back to life a slice of colonial Colombo

February 22, 2017
Income tax: Circular issued announcing several exemptions

Income tax: Circular issued announcing several exemptions

February 8, 2023
Microsoft has announced a new version of Bing

Microsoft unveils new Bing with ChatGPT powers

February 8, 2023
Electricity

Power cut schedule for today in Sri Lanka: February 8th

February 8, 2023
Dollars

Sri Lanka’s reserves cross USD 2bn

February 7, 2023
India hasn’t travelled to Pakistan since 2008

Pakistan refuse to travel to India for World Cup if Asia Cup 2023 moves out of Pakistan

February 7, 2023
Modi gets emotional over Turkiye quake, sends relief team with equipment

Modi gets emotional over Turkiye quake, sends relief team with equipment

February 7, 2023
Paris Club gives financing assurances to support IMF’s approval of EFF to Lanka

Paris Club gives financing assurances to support IMF’s approval of EFF to Lanka

February 7, 2023
ChatGPT. Image credits - Getty

Google unveils its ChatGPT rival

February 8, 2023
Doing justice to Slave Island

Doing justice to Slave Island

February 7, 2023
The hardest choice Gen. Musharraf had to make

The hardest choice Gen. Musharraf had to make

February 7, 2023
Earthquake

Death toll in Turkey, Syria earthquake soars past 3,700

February 7, 2023
Manchester City's Etihad Stadium

English Premier League accuses Manchester City of breaking financial rules

February 6, 2023
  • About Us
  • Advertisements
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NewsIn.Asia
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • All
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
    Income tax: Circular issued announcing several exemptions

    Income tax: Circular issued announcing several exemptions

    Electricity

    Power cut schedule for today in Sri Lanka: February 8th

    Dollars

    Sri Lanka’s reserves cross USD 2bn

    India hasn’t travelled to Pakistan since 2008

    Pakistan refuse to travel to India for World Cup if Asia Cup 2023 moves out of Pakistan

    Modi gets emotional over Turkiye quake, sends relief team with equipment

    Modi gets emotional over Turkiye quake, sends relief team with equipment

    Paris Club gives financing assurances to support IMF’s approval of EFF to Lanka

    Paris Club gives financing assurances to support IMF’s approval of EFF to Lanka

    Doing justice to Slave Island

    Doing justice to Slave Island

    The hardest choice Gen. Musharraf had to make

    The hardest choice Gen. Musharraf had to make

    Exchange Rate

    Foreign Currency Official Exchange Rates from Central Bank of Sri Lanka

  • World
    • All
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
    Microsoft has announced a new version of Bing

    Microsoft unveils new Bing with ChatGPT powers

    Modi gets emotional over Turkiye quake, sends relief team with equipment

    Modi gets emotional over Turkiye quake, sends relief team with equipment

    ChatGPT. Image credits - Getty

    Google unveils its ChatGPT rival

    Doing justice to Slave Island

    Doing justice to Slave Island

    Earthquake

    Death toll in Turkey, Syria earthquake soars past 3,700

    Sri Lanka offers rescue services to Turkey

    Sri Lanka offers rescue services to Turkey

    7.8 magnitude earthquake shakes central Turkey

    Second powerful earthquake hits Turkey and Syria; international aid efforts underway

    Beyoncé Wins Her 32nd Grammy, Making History at the Awards

    Beyoncé Wins Her 32nd Grammy, Making History at the Awards

    ChatGPT. Image credits - Getty

    7 ways to use ChatGPT at work to boost your productivity

  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Books
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Series
    Beyoncé Wins Her 32nd Grammy, Making History at the Awards

    Beyoncé Wins Her 32nd Grammy, Making History at the Awards

    "Avatar: The Way of Water" has soared into the $2 billion club of top grossing movies worldwide.

    ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ crosses $2 billion mark in worldwide box office

    Pathaan

    Posters of Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan torn down and burnt outside cinemas in India

    Oscars 2023

    Oscars 2023: ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ leads nominations

    Much-awaited Sri Lankan 3D animation movie “Gajaman” coming to theatres

    Much-awaited Sri Lankan 3D animation movie “Gajaman” coming to theatres

    Prince William and Prince Harry arrive at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in Vimy, France on April 9, 2017.. Image credits - Jack Taylor/Getty Images/File

    Prince Harry’s ‘Spare’ creates world record, becomes fastest selling non-fiction book

    Cocaine Bear (Credit: Universal Pictures)

    20 of the best films to watch in 2023

    Avatar

    Avatar: The Way Of Water passes USD 1B at the global box office

    (Image credit: Alamy)

    The 20 best films of 2022

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Science
    • Travel
    Vaping

    Researchers uncover new negative effects of vaping

    Clashes in the educational field over Darwin’s theory of evolution

    Clashes in the educational field over Darwin’s theory of evolution

    Child. Image credits - Filip Mroz @mroz / Unsplash

    Your child’s academic success may start with their screen time as infants

    Chief pilot Ian Porter with wife Michelle, daughters Samantha and Sydney, who act as his co-pilots, and son Christopher.. Image credits - Samantha Porter

    The family of five flying around the world in a tiny plane

    Paris. Image credits - Alexander Kagan allewollenalex / Unsplash

    World’s ‘most powerful’ tourism city revealed

    Image credits - NASA nasa / Unsplash

    Earth’s inner core may have started spinning other way

    Global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners has released its quarterly report on the world's most desirable passports. Click on to find out which passport offers the most access in 2023. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

    The world’s most powerful passport for 2023 revealed

    Image credits - Tetiana Bykovets tetiana_bykovets / Unsplash

    New research reveals reason why chocolate tastes so good

    NASA’s Webb telescope

    Extraterrestrial wonders: Webb Telescope detects its 1st exoplanet

    Asafoetida plant. Photo via Adobe Stock.

    The most controversial ingredient in Indian food

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • Tech
    Microsoft has announced a new version of Bing

    Microsoft unveils new Bing with ChatGPT powers

    ChatGPT. Image credits - Getty

    Google unveils its ChatGPT rival

    ChatGPT. Image credits - Getty

    7 ways to use ChatGPT at work to boost your productivity

    Whatsapp. Image credits - AARN GIRI / Unsplash

    WhatsApp working on Calling shortcut feature for Android

    Child. Image credits - Filip Mroz @mroz / Unsplash

    Your child’s academic success may start with their screen time as infants

    Donald Trump

    Meta says it will restore Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts

    Trending Tags

    • Sillicon Valley
    • Climate Change
    • Election Results
    • Flat Earth
    • Golden Globes
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Mr. Robot
  • Coronavirus
  • Videos
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • All
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
    Income tax: Circular issued announcing several exemptions

    Income tax: Circular issued announcing several exemptions

    Electricity

    Power cut schedule for today in Sri Lanka: February 8th

    Dollars

    Sri Lanka’s reserves cross USD 2bn

    India hasn’t travelled to Pakistan since 2008

    Pakistan refuse to travel to India for World Cup if Asia Cup 2023 moves out of Pakistan

    Modi gets emotional over Turkiye quake, sends relief team with equipment

    Modi gets emotional over Turkiye quake, sends relief team with equipment

    Paris Club gives financing assurances to support IMF’s approval of EFF to Lanka

    Paris Club gives financing assurances to support IMF’s approval of EFF to Lanka

    Doing justice to Slave Island

    Doing justice to Slave Island

    The hardest choice Gen. Musharraf had to make

    The hardest choice Gen. Musharraf had to make

    Exchange Rate

    Foreign Currency Official Exchange Rates from Central Bank of Sri Lanka

  • World
    • All
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
    Microsoft has announced a new version of Bing

    Microsoft unveils new Bing with ChatGPT powers

    Modi gets emotional over Turkiye quake, sends relief team with equipment

    Modi gets emotional over Turkiye quake, sends relief team with equipment

    ChatGPT. Image credits - Getty

    Google unveils its ChatGPT rival

    Doing justice to Slave Island

    Doing justice to Slave Island

    Earthquake

    Death toll in Turkey, Syria earthquake soars past 3,700

    Sri Lanka offers rescue services to Turkey

    Sri Lanka offers rescue services to Turkey

    7.8 magnitude earthquake shakes central Turkey

    Second powerful earthquake hits Turkey and Syria; international aid efforts underway

    Beyoncé Wins Her 32nd Grammy, Making History at the Awards

    Beyoncé Wins Her 32nd Grammy, Making History at the Awards

    ChatGPT. Image credits - Getty

    7 ways to use ChatGPT at work to boost your productivity

  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Books
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Series
    Beyoncé Wins Her 32nd Grammy, Making History at the Awards

    Beyoncé Wins Her 32nd Grammy, Making History at the Awards

    "Avatar: The Way of Water" has soared into the $2 billion club of top grossing movies worldwide.

    ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ crosses $2 billion mark in worldwide box office

    Pathaan

    Posters of Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan torn down and burnt outside cinemas in India

    Oscars 2023

    Oscars 2023: ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ leads nominations

    Much-awaited Sri Lankan 3D animation movie “Gajaman” coming to theatres

    Much-awaited Sri Lankan 3D animation movie “Gajaman” coming to theatres

    Prince William and Prince Harry arrive at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in Vimy, France on April 9, 2017.. Image credits - Jack Taylor/Getty Images/File

    Prince Harry’s ‘Spare’ creates world record, becomes fastest selling non-fiction book

    Cocaine Bear (Credit: Universal Pictures)

    20 of the best films to watch in 2023

    Avatar

    Avatar: The Way Of Water passes USD 1B at the global box office

    (Image credit: Alamy)

    The 20 best films of 2022

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Science
    • Travel
    Vaping

    Researchers uncover new negative effects of vaping

    Clashes in the educational field over Darwin’s theory of evolution

    Clashes in the educational field over Darwin’s theory of evolution

    Child. Image credits - Filip Mroz @mroz / Unsplash

    Your child’s academic success may start with their screen time as infants

    Chief pilot Ian Porter with wife Michelle, daughters Samantha and Sydney, who act as his co-pilots, and son Christopher.. Image credits - Samantha Porter

    The family of five flying around the world in a tiny plane

    Paris. Image credits - Alexander Kagan allewollenalex / Unsplash

    World’s ‘most powerful’ tourism city revealed

    Image credits - NASA nasa / Unsplash

    Earth’s inner core may have started spinning other way

    Global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners has released its quarterly report on the world's most desirable passports. Click on to find out which passport offers the most access in 2023. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

    The world’s most powerful passport for 2023 revealed

    Image credits - Tetiana Bykovets tetiana_bykovets / Unsplash

    New research reveals reason why chocolate tastes so good

    NASA’s Webb telescope

    Extraterrestrial wonders: Webb Telescope detects its 1st exoplanet

    Asafoetida plant. Photo via Adobe Stock.

    The most controversial ingredient in Indian food

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • Tech
    Microsoft has announced a new version of Bing

    Microsoft unveils new Bing with ChatGPT powers

    ChatGPT. Image credits - Getty

    Google unveils its ChatGPT rival

    ChatGPT. Image credits - Getty

    7 ways to use ChatGPT at work to boost your productivity

    Whatsapp. Image credits - AARN GIRI / Unsplash

    WhatsApp working on Calling shortcut feature for Android

    Child. Image credits - Filip Mroz @mroz / Unsplash

    Your child’s academic success may start with their screen time as infants

    Donald Trump

    Meta says it will restore Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts

    Trending Tags

    • Sillicon Valley
    • Climate Change
    • Election Results
    • Flat Earth
    • Golden Globes
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Mr. Robot
  • Coronavirus
  • Videos
NewsIn.Asia
No Result
View All Result
Home Around South Asia

Malayali family brings back to life a slice of colonial Colombo

Editor by Editor
February 22, 2017
in Around South Asia, Around The World, Food, India, Offbeat, Sri Lanka
Reading Time: 4 mins read
3 0
A A
Share on WhatsApp

Colombo, February 22 (The New Indian Express): The Vethodys, a family of Malayali entrepreneurs with roots in Kerala and Sri Lanka, have brought back to life a slice of Colombo’s colonial past with the re-launch of their extensively renovated 135 year old iconic Hotel Nippon situated in the heart of the capital’s business district.

“Nippon” as it is popularly known, occupies Manning Mansions in Slave Island, a place which the 16 th. Century Portuguese rulers of Colombo had used to house slaves brought from Africa. Being one of the oldest buildings in Colombo, Manning Mansions were designated as one of its “heritage” buildings by the Sri Lankan Department of Archeology with strict rules for their upkeep.

Vishnu V.Vethody, Managing Director

Hotel Nippon found its place in cinematic history when it was featured in David Lean’s Academy Award winning film Bridge On The River Kwai shot in Ceylon in the mid 1950s. According to Dr.Valsan Vethody, a Director of the hotel, some of the indoor shots of the Japanese army headquarters were shot in Nippon, and its then joint proprietor, Greg Roskowski, a Polish émigré, had acted in the film as one of the British Prisoners of War.

ADVERTISEMENT

Built in 1882, Manning Mansions initially comprised 14 apartments to house British military officers. But sometime in the 20 th.Century, Roskowski senior bought it and turned it into a hotel which was popular with sailors. For a short while Roskowski ran it as “Hotel Polski” but renamed it as “Hotel Nippon” when he married a Japanese lady. The Japanese connection got strengthened in the mid 1950s, when Roskowski’s son Greg, an announcer in the then hugely popular English service of Radio Ceylon, also took a Japanese bride. Serving authentic Japanese food along with continental and local fare, Nippon became a must for Japanese visitors to Colombo.

Meanwhile, Roskowski junior’s Japanese wife took as her business associate, Vethody Kumaran, a Ceylonese of Kerala origin, who, after leaving the engineering corps of the British army, was running a restaurant at Pettah.

But it did not take Kumaran long to assume full ownership of the hotel. Under Kumaran, Nippon retained its place as one of the three modern hotels within Colombo city, the others being Galle Face Hotel and the Grand Oriental Hotel. Nippon is thus an indelible landmark in the hospitality history of Colombo.

Refurbished rooms

But the good times came to an abrupt end in 1983 when ethnic riots convulsed Colombo.

“From 1983 to till the end of the war in 2009, it was a dark age for the hotel,”  recalled Vishnu K.Vethody, the young Managing Director of the hotel and a grandson of Vethody Kumaran. Nippon was particularly hard hit because it was located in a life-threatening zone housing the headquarters of the Sri Lankan Army and Air Force – institutions which were under constant threat from terrorists. In fact, on January 2, 2008, a bomb targeting an army bus went off right outside the hotel killing four.

But once the war ended in May 2009, the Vethody clan sprang to life. Encouraged by the Urban Development Authority’s ambitious plan for the restoration of heritage buildings in Colombo, the Vethody brothers  Valsan, Vasan, Chandrasena and the later Prasannan, launched an ambitious LKR 400 million (US$ 2 million) project to completely renovate the rooms and the building, while keeping intact the basic design, the trade mark façade, and the sturdy staircases made of 130 year old Burma teak.

“The fixtures in the hotel, including the linen used in the rooms, are imported and on par with other top hotels in Colombo,” Vishnu points out.

With Indians being the single largest group among tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka, Nippon caters to the Indian palate too. It is the only hotel to serve the famous “Madras filter coffee”. And being Keralites, the Vethodys have seen to it that the hotel serves a range of authentic Malayali dishes, done by two chefs from Kerala. If one is craving for authentic Calicut dum biryani in Colombo, head for Nippon.  General Manager Amitha Manchanaike sitting at the helm, ensures that the administrative machinery is well oiled and up and running round the clock.

And the tariff is competitive, points out Vishnu.

“One does not have to have a deep pocket to book into Nippon as the charge per day for bed and breakfast is just US$ 60, with all taxes included. Given the low tariff people come with low expectations, planning to stay for a day. But seeing the good conditions, many end up extending their stay by three or four days,” he said.

Spacious rooms have colonial style sitouts

Bringing back memories

The renovated Nippon is meant to revive pleasant memories of the Colombo of the fifties and sixties when it was a swinging city with a distinctly Westernized air. Located not far from the sea front, the Beira Lake and cinema theaters, Nippon was a favorite rendezvous for young couples up to the late 1970s.

“It was common for young people to see an English movie at the Rio and walk across to Nippon to have milkshakes or ice creams before heading home. I have come across couples in their sixties and seventies dropping in only to go back to their romantic past. An elderly lady got teary eyed recalling how her beau proposed to her sitting right here,” Vishnu said.

Situated in a commercial area, Nippon has been a busy eatery during the day, famous for its “short eats” especially mutton rolls.

“Our rolls makers have been passing their skill down generations. This is the secret of the uniqueness of Nippon’s rolls,” Vishnu said.

Emotional Bond

The personal attention that Nippon’s staff gave to its customers had created an emotional bond between the two.

“Personal service has been one of Nippon’s strong points right through. And we will to maintain it,” Vishnu pledged.

Here in Nippon, the proprietors set the example. With airs whatsoever, they make it a point to address all staff members by their first names and move around the premises chit chatting with them. The Vethodys often go on excursions with the hotel staff to infuse informality in relations.

(The featured image at the top is that of the renovated Hotel Nippon)

Related Posts

Income tax: Circular issued announcing several exemptions
Around South Asia

Income tax: Circular issued announcing several exemptions

February 8, 2023
Microsoft has announced a new version of Bing
Around The World

Microsoft unveils new Bing with ChatGPT powers

February 8, 2023
Electricity
Around South Asia

Power cut schedule for today in Sri Lanka: February 8th

February 8, 2023
Dollars
Around South Asia

Sri Lanka’s reserves cross USD 2bn

February 7, 2023
India hasn’t travelled to Pakistan since 2008
Around South Asia

Pakistan refuse to travel to India for World Cup if Asia Cup 2023 moves out of Pakistan

February 7, 2023
Modi gets emotional over Turkiye quake, sends relief team with equipment
Disaster

Modi gets emotional over Turkiye quake, sends relief team with equipment

February 7, 2023
  • Electricity

    Power cut schedule for today in Sri Lanka: February 8th

    59264 shares
    Share 23728 Tweet 14807
  • Registration open for National Fuel Pass

    6627 shares
    Share 2688 Tweet 1641
  • Foreign Currency Official Exchange Rates from Central Bank of Sri Lanka

    1689 shares
    Share 682 Tweet 420
  • WATCH : Yohani’s first live performance in India

    789 shares
    Share 328 Tweet 192
  • Power interruption schedule released: Check your area power cut time

    742 shares
    Share 320 Tweet 176
  • About Us
  • Advertisements
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

© 2022 All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
  • Around The World
  • Breaking News
  • Business
    • Exchange
  • Climate Change
  • Governance
    • Crime
    • Diplomacy
    • Defense
    • Human Rights
    • Politics
    • Strategic Affairs
  • Lifestyle
    • Books
    • Entertainment
      • Arts
      • Cinema
      • Gaming
      • Music
      • Movie
      • Series
      • TV
    • Health
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
  • Culture
    • Ethnicity
    • Gender
  • Development news
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Coronavirus
  • History
  • National
  • Offbeat
    • Media
    • Music and arts across South Asia
  • Recommended
    • Headlines
    • Highlights
    • Top Picture
    • Top Story
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Cricket
      • LPL
      • IPL
    • Tennis
    • Formula 1
    • NBA
  • Tech
    • Instagram
  • United Nations
  • Weather
  • World
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United States
  • Videos

© 2022 All rights reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

eskisehir escort -

https://www.vudols.com/

- Sağlık Personeli - mersin escort - Antalya korsan taksi