By Uwin Lugoda
Sri Lanka has taken several successful measures to control the spread of Covid-19; among these is the quarantining of Sri Lankans returning from abroad. Several hotels around the country have now taken steps to help the Government better enforce this measure by offering their rooms as “paid quarantine” centres, where returnees get to spend their time quarantined in luxury.
In a media statement made by Chief of Defence Staff and Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva on 3 May, he said that the Government had arranged quarantine facilities for Sri Lankans returning from abroad where they are given the option of spending their compulsory quarantine period at several hotels, at a cost of course.
Lieutenant General Silva stated that that Sri Lankans who can bear the cost of the “paid quarantine” option have expressed their willingness to spend their compulsory quarantine spell in privacy and luxury. He explained that these hotels would be arranged for the returnees at greatly reduced room rates, with the hotels’ management informing them that they could offer rooms for less than half the usually prices.
“Typically, one of these rooms is priced between Rs. 20,000-40,000 per day, with everything included. The owners have now decided to offer these rooms for as low as Rs. 7,500 per day. They do not benefit from offering meals three times a day and everything else at such a low price.”
He went on to state that several hotels were involved, and therefore Sri Lankans could pick which ones to stay in. However, the decision of whether to spend quarantine in private or in a quarantine centre run by the armed forces, is entirely up to the returnees.
Citrus Waskaduwa
One of the first hotels to offer its property as a quarantine centre was Citrus Waskaduwa, belonging to Derana Media Network Chairman Dilith Jayaweera. The Government then took steps to open the five-star hotel as a “paid quarantine” facility for Sri Lankan returnees.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, Citrus Chief Executive Officer Chandana Talwatte stated that this is a joint effort conducted by the Ministry of Health, Citrus, and the Army. He explained that while the hotel has offered its property, the Government got involved in setting the rates of Rs. 12,500 per day for a room on a non-sharing basis and Rs. 7,500 per day when sharing a room with another person.
While the hotel also provides meals to the guests staying in the hotel, as well as the forces stationed at the property, the Sri Lanka Army guided them through their strict guidelines.
He stated that the returnees who come to the hotel are checked in straight away and sent to their respective rooms, where they will spend the next 14 days in complete isolation. Even the food the hotel brings them will be left at the door and bins are kept outside the door for guests to dispose items, thereby preventing the need for anyone to enter or exit the room.
Talwatte stated that currently around 100 rooms are occupied by these returnees. He stated that the first batch of returnees occupied 36 rooms and came to the hotel on 4 May, and checked out on 18 May.
“These 36 rooms have to be fumigated and cleaned for another six days before we can reoffer them to other guests.”
According to Talwatte, the hotel understood what the returnees were going through, and decided to add extra amenities, rather than just offer the usual shampoo and conditioner. These extra amenities include dessert with every meal, laundry detergent, laundry soap, brushes, and bowls to clean the bathrooms, and two sets of linen – one already laid out on the bed and the other in the cupboard. He stated that guests can also request for extra linen by calling room service.
“So those are the extras we offered, because we understood that it’s hard for somebody to stay inside a room for this long without these things. We also gave them 24-hour WiFi, because a lot of students attending online lectures are staying with us; and we also have a smart TV for the guest to enjoy.”
Talwatte pointed out that each of the hotel’s rooms also have individual balconies facing the ocean, giving the guest a chance to get some fresh air. He went on to state that guests can order room service as well, however they will have to pay for it.
“As a quarantine centre we are very restricted in what we can do, and are not even able to send them cutlery every day; we are sending them disposable cups and saucers. We decided we’d try to give the returnees the best possible experience while they stay in the hotel, without compromise.”
He stated that the hotel is currently running with 35-40% of its workforce; main focus is on the kitchen, which is running at full strength. He went on to state that the housekeeping staff is only needed when they have to sanitise the rooms, which is every 20 days; 14 days of quarantine and six days of treatment and cleaning.
Speaking from a guest’s point of view, Hiruni Mendis, a student who arrived in the country from the US, stated that the safety measures put in place at the hotel are very adequate. Guests are not allowed to leave their rooms and in order to enforce these measures, she stated, there are regular patrols by military personnel.
Mendis stated that Sri Lankan returnees are quarantined in these hotels for a minimum of 14 days, which is only extended up to 21 days or more if there has been a positive case in the premises, or due to other medical reasons.
“They have taken some great measures to prevent person-to-person contact such as using thermal sensors when measuring our temperature twice a day, and placing a bench outside each room, on which they keep whatever essentials we need, giving us the freedom to pick it up in our own time and avoid personal contact. Even the medics who come to check on us also wear personal protective equipment (PPE) kits.”
Mendis stated that they get several amenities from the hotel, including three litres of water every day, a plate and cutlery when they arrive, toiletries, WiFi, a TV, a kettle, tea and coffee, a hairdryer, three towels per person, and some extra linen.
She explained that the meals they are given every day come in very hygienic airtight plastic containers, and guests are to collect trash in garbage bags provided to them, which they are to leave outside their room for collection at 5 p.m. every day.
“They even provide us with the cleaning utensils we need, and you can request anything to be brought to you if you are in short supply. And my favourite thing is that there is a daily courtesy call to ask us if we are okay and if everything is fine.”
Mount Lavinia Hotel
One of Sri Lanka’s oldest hotels with a history of over 210 years, Mount Lavinia Hotel Colombo has also offered their property as a “paid quarantine” centre for the returnees.
According Mount Lavinia Hotel Chairman and Managing Director Sanath Ukwatte, about 120 locals are currently staying at the hotel, which has the capacity to host another 130 at least.
He explained that the hotel is currently working with a small staff of 50 as opposed to its usual 600, due to the guests being limited-service guests. In order to abide by social distancing protocols set forth by the authorities, the hotel staff do not enter the rooms once the guests have entered, and only deliver essentials such as food and other amenities.
"Everything is highly controlled by the Army, so both the staff and visitors have to follow their guidelines. Therefore, we cannot enter the rooms and our guests cannot leave the rooms."
He explained that making sure the hotel and operation staff abide by these strict guidelines presented a challenge as the staff has to be constantly monitored; they needed to ensure the staff wore PPE when delivering food and other essential goods.
Ukwatte stated that the hotel charges Rs. 8,500 per night, including all three meals, WiFi, and other essential supplies.
Nisini Imanya Premasara, a student who returned from Malaysia and is currently under quarantine in Mount Lavinia Hotel, stated that upon arrival at the premises, the guests and their baggage were sprayed with sanitiser; they were also advised to practice social distancing.
She explained that the hotel also provided them with a new mask on arrival. They also conduct regular temperature checks every morning and evening, and sanitise the outside of their rooms, she shared.
"From the military officials to the hotel staff, everyone is wearing PPE kits, and the hotel officials have done quite a lot to ensure the safety of both their guests and staff. We have WiFi and a la carte meals, and we can always ask the hotel for anything else we may need."
Sri Lanka has taken several successful measures to control the spread of Covid-19; among these is the quarantining of Sri Lankans returning from abroad. Several hotels around the country have now taken steps to help the Government better enforce this measure by offering their rooms as “paid quarantine” centres, where returnees get to spend their time quarantined in luxury.
In a media statement made by Chief of Defence Staff and Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva on 3 May, he said that the Government had arranged quarantine facilities for Sri Lankans returning from abroad where they are given the option of spending their compulsory quarantine period at several hotels, at a cost of course.
Lieutenant General Silva stated that that Sri Lankans who can bear the cost of the “paid quarantine” option have expressed their willingness to spend their compulsory quarantine spell in privacy and luxury. He explained that these hotels would be arranged for the returnees at greatly reduced room rates, with the hotels’ management informing them that they could offer rooms for less than half the usually prices.
“Typically, one of these rooms is priced between Rs. 20,000-40,000 per day, with everything included. The owners have now decided to offer these rooms for as low as Rs. 7,500 per day. They do not benefit from offering meals three times a day and everything else at such a low price.”
He went on to state that several hotels were involved, and therefore Sri Lankans could pick which ones to stay in. However, the decision of whether to spend quarantine in private or in a quarantine centre run by the armed forces, is entirely up to the returnees.
Citrus Waskaduwa
One of the first hotels to offer its property as a quarantine centre was Citrus Waskaduwa, belonging to Derana Media Network Chairman Dilith Jayaweera. The Government then took steps to open the five-star hotel as a “paid quarantine” facility for Sri Lankan returnees.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, Citrus Chief Executive Officer Chandana Talwatte stated that this is a joint effort conducted by the Ministry of Health, Citrus, and the Army. He explained that while the hotel has offered its property, the Government got involved in setting the rates of Rs. 12,500 per day for a room on a non-sharing basis and Rs. 7,500 per day when sharing a room with another person.
While the hotel also provides meals to the guests staying in the hotel, as well as the forces stationed at the property, the Sri Lanka Army guided them through their strict guidelines.
He stated that the returnees who come to the hotel are checked in straight away and sent to their respective rooms, where they will spend the next 14 days in complete isolation. Even the food the hotel brings them will be left at the door and bins are kept outside the door for guests to dispose items, thereby preventing the need for anyone to enter or exit the room.
Talwatte stated that currently around 100 rooms are occupied by these returnees. He stated that the first batch of returnees occupied 36 rooms and came to the hotel on 4 May, and checked out on 18 May.
“These 36 rooms have to be fumigated and cleaned for another six days before we can reoffer them to other guests.”
According to Talwatte, the hotel understood what the returnees were going through, and decided to add extra amenities, rather than just offer the usual shampoo and conditioner. These extra amenities include dessert with every meal, laundry detergent, laundry soap, brushes, and bowls to clean the bathrooms, and two sets of linen – one already laid out on the bed and the other in the cupboard. He stated that guests can also request for extra linen by calling room service.
“So those are the extras we offered, because we understood that it’s hard for somebody to stay inside a room for this long without these things. We also gave them 24-hour WiFi, because a lot of students attending online lectures are staying with us; and we also have a smart TV for the guest to enjoy.”
Talwatte pointed out that each of the hotel’s rooms also have individual balconies facing the ocean, giving the guest a chance to get some fresh air. He went on to state that guests can order room service as well, however they will have to pay for it.
“As a quarantine centre we are very restricted in what we can do, and are not even able to send them cutlery every day; we are sending them disposable cups and saucers. We decided we’d try to give the returnees the best possible experience while they stay in the hotel, without compromise.”
He stated that the hotel is currently running with 35-40% of its workforce; main focus is on the kitchen, which is running at full strength. He went on to state that the housekeeping staff is only needed when they have to sanitise the rooms, which is every 20 days; 14 days of quarantine and six days of treatment and cleaning.
Speaking from a guest’s point of view, Hiruni Mendis, a student who arrived in the country from the US, stated that the safety measures put in place at the hotel are very adequate. Guests are not allowed to leave their rooms and in order to enforce these measures, she stated, there are regular patrols by military personnel.
Mendis stated that Sri Lankan returnees are quarantined in these hotels for a minimum of 14 days, which is only extended up to 21 days or more if there has been a positive case in the premises, or due to other medical reasons.
“They have taken some great measures to prevent person-to-person contact such as using thermal sensors when measuring our temperature twice a day, and placing a bench outside each room, on which they keep whatever essentials we need, giving us the freedom to pick it up in our own time and avoid personal contact. Even the medics who come to check on us also wear personal protective equipment (PPE) kits.”
Mendis stated that they get several amenities from the hotel, including three litres of water every day, a plate and cutlery when they arrive, toiletries, WiFi, a TV, a kettle, tea and coffee, a hairdryer, three towels per person, and some extra linen.
She explained that the meals they are given every day come in very hygienic airtight plastic containers, and guests are to collect trash in garbage bags provided to them, which they are to leave outside their room for collection at 5 p.m. every day.
“They even provide us with the cleaning utensils we need, and you can request anything to be brought to you if you are in short supply. And my favourite thing is that there is a daily courtesy call to ask us if we are okay and if everything is fine.”
Mount Lavinia Hotel
One of Sri Lanka’s oldest hotels with a history of over 210 years, Mount Lavinia Hotel Colombo has also offered their property as a “paid quarantine” centre for the returnees.
According Mount Lavinia Hotel Chairman and Managing Director Sanath Ukwatte, about 120 locals are currently staying at the hotel, which has the capacity to host another 130 at least.
He explained that the hotel is currently working with a small staff of 50 as opposed to its usual 600, due to the guests being limited-service guests. In order to abide by social distancing protocols set forth by the authorities, the hotel staff do not enter the rooms once the guests have entered, and only deliver essentials such as food and other amenities.
"Everything is highly controlled by the Army, so both the staff and visitors have to follow their guidelines. Therefore, we cannot enter the rooms and our guests cannot leave the rooms."
He explained that making sure the hotel and operation staff abide by these strict guidelines presented a challenge as the staff has to be constantly monitored; they needed to ensure the staff wore PPE when delivering food and other essential goods.
Ukwatte stated that the hotel charges Rs. 8,500 per night, including all three meals, WiFi, and other essential supplies.
Nisini Imanya Premasara, a student who returned from Malaysia and is currently under quarantine in Mount Lavinia Hotel, stated that upon arrival at the premises, the guests and their baggage were sprayed with sanitiser; they were also advised to practice social distancing.
She explained that the hotel also provided them with a new mask on arrival. They also conduct regular temperature checks every morning and evening, and sanitise the outside of their rooms, she shared.
"From the military officials to the hotel staff, everyone is wearing PPE kits, and the hotel officials have done quite a lot to ensure the safety of both their guests and staff. We have WiFi and a la carte meals, and we can always ask the hotel for anything else we may need."