Three hotels to become quarantine centres

• Dhammika Perera to donate Rs. 70 m

Three hotels in Waskaduwa, Trincomalee, and Negombo were offered as quarantine centres to the Government yesterday by Citrus Leisure PLC, John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH), and Hemas Holdings PLC, respectively. This step has been taken by these corporate giants in consideration of the health crisis Sri Lanka is currently facing and it has already been communicated to the Government. Citrus Waskaduwa, owned by media mogul Dilith Jayaweera, said in a press release that it had arrived at this decision in consideration of the valiant efforts made by the Government, the health sector, and the security forces to control this situation in the country. “In keeping with the group’s nation mindedness ethos, the Board decided to offer its 150-room resort, Citrus Waskaduwa, to be used as a quarantine centre by the National Operations Centre to Prevent Covid-19 on a temporary basis, should the need arise,” it said. The statement added that, in the event that the authorities decide to use the resort temporarily, the resort will be completely decontaminated in keeping with international standards before normal resort operations commence. JKH Chairman Krishan Balendra had written to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday (21) offering the Cinnamon property in Trincomalee for use as a quarantine centre on a temporary basis should the need arise. While JKH has offered this property due to its proximity to the Naval Base, it said it is also open to discussing offering its numerous other properties scattered around the island for the same purpose if needed. Hemas Holdings Plc too has offered its subsidiary, Club Hotel Dolphin in Negombo, to be used as a quarantine centre by the Government on a temporary basis if the need arises.The company said it has communicated the offer to the Army Commander and National Operation Centre for Prevention of Covid-19 Outbreak Chairman Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva, and is waiting for a response. The 154-room Club Hotel Dolphin is a resort located in Waikkal, a mere 50 km from Colombo and 20 km from the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).Meanwhile, in the first major philanthropic initiative by a corporate personality in the battle against Covid-19, business tycoon Dhammika Perera, yesterday, pledged to donate Rs. 70 million worth of urgent healthcare facilities from his personal fund to combat the virus.The Sunday Morning learnt that an order had been placed for six Intensive Care Unit (ICU) ventilators and 485 hospital beds, including 169 ICU beds.