The Hide@Kalametiya is the outcome of a community based tourism initiative in the RUK area. A process of developing community based ecotourism projects resulted in the project’s lead consultant a former Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourist Board, former Vice President Asia of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and former Secretary General of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Renton de Alwis, deciding to continue to work in the area as a stakeholder. His daughter Samanthika, bought the house of the Edirisuriya family who had it up for sale, which was in disrepair at the time. Upon restoring this heritage house, he set up the social entrepreneurship company Kalametiya Kadella Nest (Pvt) Ltd) to operate what is today ‘The Hide@Kalametiya’. The Board of Management of The Hide@Kalametiya consists of the following:

Prof. Sarath Kotagama, Chairman
Ms. Samanthika de Alwis, Director
Susira Udalamatte , Director
Dr Chameen Weerasinghe Gunasekera (representing the local community)
Ms. Kumi Ekaratne (Director) - Marine Biologist, Invited  Director
The Community Catalyst cum Manager - Ex Officio member

Following are the basic premises on which the operation of The Hyde@Kalametiya is based:

1. We treat our guests to the RUK area as most important persons & will always care and share and build bridges for them with the community and other stakeholders …
2. Our organizational style is to have as little of it as possible …
3. Our management style is to have as little of it as possible …
4. Our overheads are to be always kept at a bare minimum …
5. We support people , not make a business of them …
6. We will operate a business, only if it can support our community work..
7. We will not command, but will make things happen keeping the community on top of things …
8. We will support only those who want to be supported …
9. We want to make people help themselves and not depend on us …
10. Education, awareness creation & training are very important aspects in our work …
11. We shall seek the highest level of quality in everything we do …
12. We do not serve any alcoholic beverages at any of our members’ facilities, for we see it as one of the key causes of poverty in our country…

Our Community Tourism Model

Sharing of the net profit in running a successful business at The Hide@Kalametiya will be as follows:

1. 20% in a fund to support community based tourism initiatives including a small loan facility
   
   
2. 20% towards the schools environmental education programme working   with FOGSL and /or similar organisation
   
   
3. 20% for  training of community members and other welfare work
   
   
4. 20% to the architect for the restoration work done until fee is amortized. The capital cost incurred for restoration work is not amortized to the project. Please note that only operational costs are charged in the calculation of profit.
   
   
5. 20% for maintenance of the facility in a fund (for major work)