Green travel, which seeks to reduce the environmental impact of the travel industry, continues to grow in popularity across the globe as people become more concerned with the health of the planet. As tourism’s role in the Sri Lankan economy grows each year this budding new trend will soon impact the local industry. Staying ahead of the curve and leaning into this global trend with their flagship product, Convertainers, is Advantis Engineering, a subsidiary of Hayleys Advantis Limited.
The pioneer in converting marine containers to usable work space in Sri Lanka, Advantis Engineering has partnered with the team behind The Box House Tangalle to create a novel, sustainable and environmentally friendly villa. Nestled in the tranquil surroundings past Galle city in Tangalle, The Box House provides visitors with an ideal, environmentally friendly and serene escape from the city.
“Green or Sustainable tourism is being sought after across the world by a growing movement of conscientious travelers who are more sensitive to the effects of environmental change. It is no longer enough to only have green operational practices. We believe that sustainability begins with construction, and it was our vision to reduce our ecological footprint by repurposing discarded shipping containers. Although the idea itself wasn’t novel, we wanted to push the boundaries of what had been achieved before. This is where Advantis Engineering stepped up to the challenge. Together, I believe we have created something amazing, within a short timeframe and at a competitive cost,” said Malisha Kodituwakku, Architect and co-owner of the Box House.
Convertainers by Advantis Engineering provides customers with quick, easily made and unique living spaces, by utilizing upcycled freight containers. In addition, the prefabricated and modular nature of Convertainers allows them to be tailored to meet any specific need with even future additions to the structure possible without disruption to ongoing operations. The Convertainers conform to ISO quality standards and have a lifespan of over 25 years with Advantis Engineering providing all after sales services and maintenance.
“Our Convertainers allow people to reduce their environmental footprint and be one with nature while ensuring that comfort and amenities are not compromised on. It is our flagship product for our vision of a compact, modular living space that is both eco-friendly and easily deployable,” said Kamal Wimalaratne, General Manager, Advantis Engineering. “We are delighted that we were able to bring this vision to reality while meeting the specific needs of The Box House, Tangalle. The resulting property is stunning and luxurious, the ideal spot for any green traveler.”
Advantis Engineering, a fully owned subsidiary of Hayleys Advantis Limited, constantly strives to provide innovative accommodation solutions for a wide variety of industries. Operating with the latest technology applications, the company has expanded its service offering over the years, ensuring that the best of mobile accommodation solutions are available right here in Sri Lanka. It is also the only company in Sri Lanka that is operating with a fully-fledged sheltered manufacturing plant for container conversions. Advantis Engineering has also been catering to a diverse range of clients in the South East Asian and African region. Hayleys Advantis is the transportation and logistics arm of Hayleys PLC, a diversified blue-chip multinational conglomerate, recognized as the number 1 listed company in Sri Lanka.