Catalina, Koggala – living in country club style
Sri Lanka’s first luxury gated community for over 55s has just been launched at Koggala. Independent living communities have been well established for several decades in North America, Europe and Australia. Within Southeast Asia, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia have very successfully catered to the growing demand for affordable, high quality accommodation for affluent clients. With the launch of Catalina, Sri Lanka is set to join this group of countries that have established themselves as a destination for deluxe, over 55-years-old communities, given our combination of culture, lower cost of living, reasonable real estate prices, tropical weather and picturesque surroundings. With 22 villas in country club style of members-only leisure and sporting facilities, Catalina will be an ideal choice for discerning, affluent buyers who wish to have a retirement or second home in a safe, peaceful setting surrounded by like-minded neighbours, the promoters say. Catalina’s luxury villas will particularly appeal to Sri Lankans living abroad who have worked hard to enjoy an easier pace of life; but will also interest local Sri Lankans who find it onerous to run their own large but now empty households due to children having gone away from family homes. Expatriate children who are busy pursuing successful careers overseas may also find a Catalina villa an attractive investment for their parents.
Catalina does not merely offer residents an independent healthy living and wellness. Residents will have many opportunities to engage in organized social service activities and ‘giving back’ to their home country; whether it be teaching English to children in local schools or similar community service organized through the Catalina club.
The project
Catalina features 22 luxury two-bedroomed villas with a third room for a live-in maid that can be converted to a guest bedroom or an office/study. With deluxe facilities and fittings, every detail for convenience and safety based on stringent Australian standards is incorporated within the villa and clubhouse designed with minimal steps and ledges, easy to handle doors and safety rails in wheelchair friendly bathrooms.
The spacious landscaped ground of nearly six acres is designed by legendary architect/designer Laki Senanayake and offers all facilities including a 25-metre swimming pool, tennis court, a golf putting green and lawn bowling; a spacious gym; restaurant with air-conditioned indoor plus al fresco dining; an organic vegetable garden where residents are welcome to practice hobby gardening; a convenience store, a well stocked library and mini cinema, theatre; concierge service, valet parking and most important of all – complete security.
A regular scheduled van service is offered to Galle and Colombo. It is 15 minutes to the beaches of Koggala (which has a golf course) or Ahangama, Unawatuna and Talpe. Organized activities will include yoga, ayurveda massages, guest speakers, weekly movie nights, jazz evenings, wine tasting and cookery classes. The Sunday barbecue will tempt appetites of Cataliina residents and their visiting guests.
Health care is important. All staff will be trained in emergency first aid and CPR. Hemas Southern Hospital and the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle are reachable in a few minutes. A special VIP channel service, regular scheduled doctor visits and an ambulance on call 24/7 offer added peace of mind. If a resident’s circumstance changes needing a higher degree of in-house medical care, this can be arranged.
Completion of the villas and opening of the country club are planned for mid 2019 and construction has commenced on a show villa and the club house. All villas are offered on sale on freehold title, as outright purchase and in two floor plans with five villas having a built area of 1990 sq ft with their own private landscaped garden on 27 perches, available for an introductory price of USD 325,000. A villa in a garden plot of 18 perches is currently available for the introductory price of USD 275,000. If a resident plans to travel overseas for an extended period, the management office can rent his/her villa to a selected tenant, with rental proceeds going to the resident.
The name and logo Catalina celebrates the legacy of the Catalina seaplane (aka flying boats) which used Koggala Lake as a vital, sole transport link connecting Australia with England during World War II, when Japanese forces occupying SE Asia prevented other means of transport. These amphibian aircraft flew in 30 hours from Perth to Koggala, and then on to London, and vice versa. The Catalina aircraft flying low over the Indian Ocean at night in radio silence to avoid enemy fighter planes, completed 271 successful missions without a single loss. The flight was dubbed the Double Sunrise Flight and each passenger was given a certificate to welcome them to an exclusive group. The Catalina Country Club restaurant will be named Double Sunrise Restaurant and the two alternate villa designs are named after two of the Catalina aircraft that undertook these incredible flights.
Koggala, the heart of the ‘Southern Riviera’, offers easy access to the best beaches in the country in close proximity to the charming historic town of Galle, and easy reach of Colombo and the airport, via the southern highway.
The investors of Catalina are a very select blue chip group of leading local and overseas business figures, many of them with significant market-leading hospitality interests in Sri Lanka and SE Asia.
Contact Catalina:
T: +9411 257 7425 | F: +9411 257 7425
Email: sales@catalinasrilanka.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecatalinasrilanka
Website: https://catalinasrilanka.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecatalinasrilanka/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CatalinaLanka
