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THE chairman of a Bahrain-based development company is determined to prove that luxury developments need not damage the environment.
Neil D'Silva has received the go-ahead from the Sri Lankan government to build the $275 million resort on the tropical Dutch Bay island in Sri Lanka's western province.
NIC Homes is set to construct a luxury eco-friendly resort in Sri Lanka on an island that was once explored by Bahraini pearl divers.
"My vision is to set an example to 'top end' developers around the world, to show that luxury developments can co-exist with eco-friendly environments," he said.
"It is an amazing place and we wanted to create something that was environmentally sustainable and benefited the economy of the country. Our journey began with a dream and a belief that the environment of Sri Lanka, both naturally and culturally is very much undiscovered."
In August work will start on 150 luxury homes, 40 chalets and a bio mass electricity facility.
The island emerged unscathed from the 2004 Tsunami, protected by the coral reef that surrounds it. It is covered in lush tropical rainforest and mangroves that are teeming with wildlife. There are 27 bird species and in the nearby protected land there are five ecosystems that allow bird and animal life to flourish.
Mr D'Silva, who is of Sri Lankan descent, aims to reintroduce Dugong, a threatened marine mammal, and has pledged to protect the turtles that live on the island's beaches.
Cross-back donkeys also roam Dutch Bay, a legacy left by the Bahraini pearl divers who came to the island 60 years ago.
"According to National Geographic, Arab pearl divers from Bahrain came to the island to dive in the Indian Ocean and they left behind cross-back donkeys which live there today," he explained.
There are also monuments that tell of the island's colonisation by the Dutch and Portuguese and Mr D'Silva has teamed up with National Geographic in a bid to restore the 16th-century Dutch fort and 15th century church.
"For far too long, resort development has been associated with benefiting the tourist at the expense of the location and its environment," he reasoned. "There should be a partnership and our philosophy of sustainability means that we aspire to build more than just a resort but build for the future generations."
The construction of a biomass electricity facility - a carbon neutral process that burns organic matter - will provide 1,000 jobs for locals and generate one megawatt of electricity.
The majority of resort staff will also be locals, and a plan is underway to educate the local community about the power of preserving the environment.
Mr D'Silva's plans have been approved by the International Business Leaders Forum, an organisation which promotes sustainable development, chaired by the Prince of Wales.
"We are also going to donate five per cent of our profits to help educate needy children in the country. In Sri Lanka the illiteracy rate is extremely high and we wanted to do something about it," said Mr D'Silva.
To reach the island an air taxi service, landing strip and marina will also be developed. The island is a half hour flight from the capital Colombo.
The luxury homes will sell for between two and four million dollars and each will have bespoke colonial furnishings, an acre of land and a swimming pool.
"We will offer a rental service whereby owners will receive 72 per cent of the rental income generated by the property which we will manage," explained Mr D'Silva, adding that he anticipated a lot of interest from people eager to live in an eco-friendly tropical paradise.
The development was welcomed by resort operators and prompted industry interest when it was unveiled at shows in Hong Kong and France.
"A steering committee consisting of 11 highly-qualified project development consultants, representing international entities, has been working over the past year to secure an award-winning six-star hotel operator capable of managing this signature development," he said.
"This will be a tropical hideaway that will allow the environment to continue functioning properly and indefinitely, without endangering the welfare of future generations."
