Cinnamon Grand Colombo, one of Sri Lanka’s most distinctive hospitality landmarks, commemorates its 20th anniversary under the Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts’ brand, celebrating two decades of service while holding firm to its Sri Lankan identity.

First opened in 1975 as Hotel Lanka Oberoi, the Oberoi Group’s first foray outside India the hotel has undergone multiple reinventions, from its Colombo Plaza era to its transformation into Cinnamon Grand Colombo under John Keells Holdings in 2005. Each chapter expanded its scale, sharpened its brand, and embedded it deeper into the cultural and corporate fabric of the city.

Today, Cinnamon Grand Colombo stands as a rare constant in Colombo’s evolving hospitality landscape. Even as global brands intensified competition through distribution power and loyalty ecosystems, Cinnamon Grand remains as a leading preference and continues to stand out as a classic in a fiercely competitive environment.

“In a market increasingly defined by global standardisation, Cinnamon Grand Colombo’s strength lies in offering our hospitality without sacrificing its Sri Lankan soul”, said Kamal Munasinghe, Chief Operating Officer, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts.

Over the last two decades, Cinnamon Grand Colombo refined a strategy that targets Colombo’s most lucrative segments, high spending leisure travellers and the city’s corporate elite. The hotel presents a narrative of contemporary hospitality shaped by Sri Lankan cultural texture from its award winning, recently renovated Nuga Gama restaurant offering village style dining to wellness to city exploration. The property evolved into a cornerstone of Colombo’s event and business infrastructure, consistently hosting diplomatic delegations, multinational boards, sporting events and marquee gala events. Cinnamon Grand’s meeting and events portfolio remains one of the prime choices for guests and corporates in Colombo, headlined by The Oak Room often selected for high profile launches, international conferences, and national gatherings. The Atrium Lobby and its network of modular breakout rooms allow the property to support simultaneous events across scales, a competitive advantage as Colombo continues to court the regional MICE market.

As Cinnamon Grand Colombo celebrates its 20th anniversary under the Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts brand, its impact extends beyond hospitality. The property is also home to the Cinnamon Hospitality Academy, established in partnership with SHMA and VET by EHL, which is redefining hospitality education in Sri Lanka. The Academy, which marked its first anniversary this year, celebrated this milestone within the very walls of Cinnamon Grand Colombo.

“For two decades we have been a part of stories of many who has visited the city, be it a celebration, a union a gathering, this milestone is an accumulations of countless stories and milestones of celebrations of our guests over the years, its truly something extraordinary for a brand to experience this level of love and loyalty that has stood the test of time” , said Kamal Munasinghe.

Cinnamon Grand Colombo is a generational landmark one that has shaped the city, its events, culture, its diplomatic engagements, and its definition of Sri Lankan hospitality.