Table of Content
Written By
GHR Global
Digital Marketing Team
Ocean Breeze Negombo Phase 2 was officially launched in style on the evening of 18th July 2025, at The Blue, Hilton Colombo. Hosted by GHR, the event welcomed nearly 200 guests, including clients, media personalities, investors, and members of the GHR team for an elegant and energetic night of celebration.
The evening began on a graceful note, with classical violists setting the mood and cocktails, drinks, and refreshments flowing throughout. Guests were treated to a string of cultural and upbeat dance performances, followed by a lively band playing through the night. A showcase of the Ocean Breeze Negombo Phase 2 introduction video and exclusive footage from the previous day's groundbreaking ceremony added meaning and momentum to the occasion.
The atmosphere was one of pride and anticipation as GHR formally unveiled its latest coastal venture, a 25-floor luxury hotel residency featuring 287 units ranging from studios to 3-bedroom suites. Over 70% of the units were sold within just six months of pre-launch, a testament to the demand for investment-ready properties in this booming region. Located along Porutota Road (Negombo’s famed Hotel Road), Ocean Breeze Negombo Phase 2 stands as a LKR 7.5 billion project, featuring rooftop pools and restaurants, wellness centers, a clubhouse, conference areas, and secure indoor parking.
Highlights from the Q&A with Chairman Dasun Wickramarathna
One of the night’s key highlights was a live Q&A session with GHR Chairman, Mr. Dasun Wickramarathna, who spoke candidly about the company’s journey and future.
Q1. Why is today a special evening for GHR? It truly is a remarkable day for all of us. We’ve gathered here to celebrate the groundbreaking of our newest project, but that’s not all. We’ve also pre-launched two major residential apartment developments in Colombo 05, one along Park Road and another in Edmonton. Altogether, these projects represent over 350 residential units and investments exceeding Rs. 15 billion. These milestones are why today is such a proud and celebratory moment for GHR.
Q2. GHR often says it’s the number one hotel residency developer in Sri Lanka. What makes you say that with such confidence? Yes, we proudly say we are the number one hotel residency developer in Sri Lanka. While there are many players in the condominium sector, hotel residencies form a niche within that space. Back in 2016, I wanted to offer something different from the mass market, a unique concept that stood out. That’s when we introduced the idea of hotel residencies: compact, fully-equipped apartments with hotel-style amenities. We launched this concept with Ocean Breeze Negombo in 2016 and refined it to suit our customers’ budgets and lifestyles. Since then, we’ve expanded across the country with The Kingdom in Sigiriya, two projects in Nuwara Eliya; The Grand Residencies and Lakefront Residencies, as well as Ocean Breeze Hikkaduwa and now Ocean Breeze Negombo Phase 2 .Altogether, we’ve launched six hotel residency projects, accounting for over 1,000 units and a total value of around Rs. 50 billion. With that track record, I can confidently say GHR is the pioneer and market leader in this segment.
Q3. Many new players are now entering the hotel residency space. What do you think sets GHR apart from the rest? From the very beginning, I wanted to do something different and avoid competing in the conventional condominium market. When we started developing the hotel residency concept, we focused on three things: price, place, and product. First, we made sure the price was accessible and made financial sense for investors. Second, we carefully selected locations that aligned with strong tourism demand. And third, we created a product that fits the niche, one that combines lifestyle and investment potential. Unlike other developers who mainly build for residential use, we offer properties as investment opportunities. Our pricing is highly competitive, our locations are consistently in demand, and the product we deliver is purpose-built for rental income and capital growth. That’s the difference, and that’s what has brought so many of our investors and partners here tonight.
Q4. Ocean Breeze Negombo Phase 2 has a very distinctive design. Can you tell us the story behind it? I think it’s best to hear from the expert himself. I’d like to invite our lead architect, Anushka Dassanayake, to explain the vision behind the design.
Lead Architect Anushka Dassanayake: In architecture, monolithic buildings often get criticized for being soulless or repetitive. With Ocean Breeze Negombo Phase 2, we wanted to break away from that. We’ve designed a modular, deconstructed façade that really stands out from the typical structures around it. Each module has been pushed in or pulled out to create a sense of movement and depth. It’s not just visual drama. Every part of the façade plays a role in shaping the interior experience and taking full advantage of the location. The site is right next to the beach, and our aim was to frame the views beautifully, both from within the apartments and when viewing the building itself from outside. The result is a dynamic structure that complements its serene coastal setting while standing out architecturally.
Q5. You’ve been in this business for over two decades. What has been your biggest challenge so far? We’ve faced many challenges over the years, but if I had to name one that truly tested us, it would be the period between 2019 and 2022. During the COVID-19 pandemic and Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, the entire country came to a halt; no fuel, no gas, no foreign exchange, severe import restrictions, and a collapsing economy. Construction prices skyrocketed. To give you an idea, a bag of cement that cost Rs. 750 before the crisis went up to Rs. 3,150. GHR faced losses of over Rs. 1 billion during that time. We had four active projects: Ocean Breeze Negombo, The Kingdom Sigiriya, The Grand Residencies in Nuwara Eliya, and the Marriott Residencies in Colombo 06. Despite these losses, we did not pass a single rupee of that burden onto our customers. We absorbed the costs and made the necessary adjustments to ensure that all projects were delivered. Many of the people here tonight were part of that journey with us, and I’m proud to say that GHR stayed true to its promises even in the toughest of times.
Breaking New Ground in Negombo
On the morning of 17th July 2025, the GHR team gathered at the Ocean Breeze Negombo Phase 2 site for an official groundbreaking ceremony that marked the start of a bold new chapter in Sri Lankan coastal development.
The occasion was a meaningful one, bringing together members of the leadership team, project partners, and key stakeholders to formally begin construction on what is set to become one of Negombo’s most iconic addresses.
This moment was not just the start of a construction timeline. It was the continuation of a vision launched nearly a decade ago, now expanding to meet growing demand from both local and international investors. With construction now officially underway, Ocean Breeze Negombo Phase 2 moves from blueprint to reality, reinforcing GHR’s commitment to innovation and opportunity on Sri Lanka’s western coast.
Click here to view full event photo gallery on our Facebook Page.
