The Sri Lankan Army has announced the launch of a brand that will create resorts across the country, as they opened yet another holiday resort on the island.

Speaking to reporters, Army chief Jagath Jayasuriya proudly announced the launch of the “Laya” brand hotels, stating,

"Our vision is to make the 'Laya' brand one of the most sought-after resort hotels in Sri Lanka".

The Army chief went on to comment that the security forces had taken up this task because of necessity, explaining,

"We're not going to challenge the private sector but trying to help meet the room requirement for the anticipated tourist arrivals and maintain the best standards."

He went on to anticipate a bigger role for hotel resort industry on the island, and possibly the armed forces, telling reporters,

"This depends on the rapid build up of room capacity…The government has set a target room capacity of 30,000 by 2015".

Earlier this year the Sri Lankan Army opened their second holiday resort in the Jaffna peninsula alone. See below:

Army opens yet another holiday resort in Jaffna (11 Jan 2012)

The military is currently involved in a whole host of other activities in Sri Lanka, already running restaurants and shops along the A9 highway to Jaffna, selling vegetables, running holiday resorts in the North-East, maintaining cricket stadiums, constructing buildings, running domestic flights and even have their own reality TV show.

See our earlier posts:

Gota's catering services (21 July 2012)

Military does public health (12 May 2012)

Army to form construction company (19 Jan 2012)

Army on standby to sell and distribute vegetables (13 Dec 2011)

Army to build a 5-star hotel (06 Nov 2011)

Militarising Cricket (04 Nov 2011)

Sri Lankan military expands commercial arm (01 Oct 2011)