- Harpo Gooneratne requests for restaurants to open at 25% capacity
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Harpo’s Hotels, Cafés, and Restaurants CEO and Founder, and CCRC President Harpo Gooneratne [/caption]
It's been 18 months since Covid-19 came into our lives. Out of these 18 months, Harpo’s Hotels, Cafés, and Restaurants CEO and Founder and Colombo City Restaurant Collective (CCRC) President Harpo Gooneratne observed that we have been in lockdown for over seven months, and are currently in our fourth lockdown. That is; if this lockdown can even be counted as one. Gooneratne urges the Government to permit SLTDA-registered restaurants to open during the lockdown at least at a minimum capacity of 25%.
He noted that many shops and institutions are still open and operational even though they are not necessarily considered essential services, especially with wine stores opening recently. He also pointed out that despite the regulations, almost all supermarkets are open and questions when it became essential for them to open doors to the public, despite delivery being an option. A stroll down the road will show lines of vehicles travelling and small kiosks also remaining open despite a lockdown: “I’m not blaming these shops because they also have to make a living; it’s survival of the fittest; we are all simply trying to survive the day.” He pointed out that even hotels are fully functional and are serving, questioning: “So why are we not allowed to operate, even though we are willing to compromise and open at 25% capacity?”
The fact that many shops, hotels, and wine stores are open is simply unfair to restaurateurs as it seems like they are the only ones that are prevented from operating during this so-called lockdown.
Precautions taken
They have gone through all of our lockdowns following the rules and have learnt how to operate: “The staff are trained, our customers are more attuned to it now and they call us and ask if we social distance and follow the health precautions.”
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The CCRC ‘Food 4 Survival’ initiative[/caption]
Gooneratne stated that they will take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of both their staff and customers if they are given the opportunity to open with 25% capacity. “The CCRC have vaccinated all of our staff; they are required to wear masks as well when serving customers,” he informed us, adding that they have over 60 members of the CRC with over 3000 employees.
He also informed us that their staff have been given badges stating that they are vaccinated to assure the customers that their safety is their priority. On top of this, every customer that visits the restaurant is required to show proof of vaccination; otherwise they are not permitted to enter. If the customers are not vaccinated, then they have the option of home delivery so they don’t miss out on the delicious meals they offer.
Staff rendered helpless
Gooneratne also added that they have gone through 18 months of loss with no hand-offs from the Government whatsoever with their staff left high and dry. Their staff isn’t able to go to work, which he observed is fair because they have to respect the health authorities’ decisions of preventing inter-provincial travel that seems to have brought down the numbers of Covid-19 patients in the country. “We, as a restaurant, are responsible towards our staff and we, as an association (CRC) have now taken responsibility and come up with our own regulations to ensure the customers safety,” he informed us, adding that if they are allowed to be open, then they have the means of paying their several staff as well.
He also informed us that the CCRC launched “Food 4 Survival” this week, where member restaurants came together to feed the less fortunate who are suffering through the lockdown in lieu of the suffering caused by this lockdown. “The cafés and restaurants donated freshly packed food for distribution amongst the hungry and pledged their contribution to the cause every Saturday,” he commented. On this topic, he also added that the CCRC wishes to thank The Robin Hood Army, Empowered Rangers, and Rotary members for coming forward as professional distributors to help reach the most vulnerable communities.
