Menu
HomeAcross the length and breadth of this tropical isle, many of our homes of Sri Lankan hospitality have committed to a number of sustainable initiatives that represent the harmonious coexistence of community and environment. As an iconic member in our family of hotels, Jetwing Lighthouse has taken steps to focus on every aspect of our sustainability programme with several examples of responsible tourism proactively brought to life in our coastal home.
Jetwing Hotels has been a pioneer of sustainable tourism in Sri Lanka, guided for over five decades by the philosophy of our founder, the late Herbert Cooray. With the importance of sustainability being brought to the fore in recent times, the need for conscious decisions to be made for the future of the planet and its people is greater than ever. We believe that making changes today, however small, can lead to a better future.
By sharing our journey of sustainability, what we have learnt, and what we hope to achieve, we aim to inspire change and create a butterfly effect.
A 125kW grid-tied and net-metered roof mounted solar photovoltaic array that was commissioned in 2017, and a further 75kW added in 2024. This combined system contributes upto 10% of the total electricity requirement of Jetwing Lighthouse.
Jetwing Lighthouse hosts an onsite biomass boiler, which is fuelled by cinnamon wood for 24 hours a day, and is primarily used to generate steam for hot water and laundry requirements.
The hot water requirements of Jetwing Lighthouse are met through a central hot water system, driven entirely through renewable means, with our biomass boiler.
The effluent treatment plant at Jetwing Lighthouse allows us to treat 100% of wastewater that is generated onsite. The treated water is then used for garden irrigation, while the sludge produced is used as a nutrient-rich soil enhancer. All garden sweepings and other tree clippings from our gardens are composted in a traditional above ground compost pile, where the product compost is also used as a nutrient-rich soil enhancer in the hotel gardens.
Food waste from our kitchens and restaurants are added to a biogas digester on a daily basis, which then produces amethane -rich output gas that helps fuel modified stoves in our staff kitchen.
Home to one of the largest resident blue whale populations in the world, our hotel on the southern coastline of Sri Lanka is the ideal location for both the observation and awareness of these magnificent species. Jetwing Lighthouse features an onsite cetacean information center, which shares knowledge on these marine mammals with our guests, local schoolchildren and the wider community.
Following the 2004 tsunami, Jetwing Lighthouse collaborated with a number of parties to build a community swimming pool supervised by professional coaches, who helped instill valuable aquatic skills into future generations such as the local schoolchildren who continue to benefit from free swimming lessons.
In addition, Jetwing Lighthouse also collaborated with local tuk-tuk drivers to give them a sense of belonging as we welcomed them into our family. Eliminating the need for a third party taxi service, the local tuk-tuk drivers continue to provide our guests with tours and transport in and around the southern capital of Galle.
Youth from nearby communities are recruited through the Jetwing Youth Development Programme (JYDP), which offers free training in tourism, hospitality, language, and interpersonal skills. This equips them for careers within the industry. After the training, participants receive on-the-job training and are then given the opportunity to join our family, though there is no obligation to do so.
As an equal opportunity employer, we ensure all associates have equal growth opportunities with promotions based solely on merit. We celebrate diversity and are committed to fostering a safe and inclusive workplace.
Employee health and safety is of the utmost importance to us. We routinely inspect our spaces, maintain essential safety equipment, and provide thorough training so that all associates are well-prepared in case of an emergency.
Minimising both plastic waste and the carbon footprint from transportation, all glass bottles used at Jetwing Lighthouse are filled with purified water at an onsite water bottling plant. With a maximum bottling capacity of 2000 litres per day, the plant features semi-automated washing, and fully automated filling and capping systems in a unit that is housed in a repurposed container, powered by a dedicated solar array. Jetwing Lighthouse also maintains an organic garden, which grows fresh regional produce that is primarily used in staff cafeteria kitchen at the hotel.
At Jetwing Hotels, we take pride in celebrating our local cuisine. We were the first family of hotels in Sri Lanka to exclusively use local fruits, vegetables, and seafood in our culinary offerings. By focusing on local sourcing, we've built strong partnerships throughout our supply chain, with many of our suppliers located within the same district.