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Night races extended; problems for top hotels
View(s):Colombo’s night motor races this year will see local and foreign riders racing through extended routes but the event is also driving away guests from five-star hotels.
That includes those who have planned weddings, home comings and other events, some of which have had to be cancelled. The reason for this, according to Anura Lokuhetti, past president of the Hoteliers Association, is the “absence of an events calendar.” He said both tourists and those organising events at five-star hotels would know how to plan their itineraries if such a calendar existed.
City Hotels Association President M. Shanthikumar said night races would draw tourists who enjoyed adventure sports, but as they were being held near five-star hotels they should be announced at least a year before.
“At the end of the inaugural night race last year, there were many complaints from those who had their weddings and other functions at night. The guests were unable to move out or come in for long hours,” he said.
He said that following discussions, it was decided to have several intervals between the races so that the roads would be open to the public, including guests in hotels.
This year, qualifying races will be held on December 14, from 7 p.m. and the finals on December 15 from 7 p.m. Among the hotels that have warned their clients about the races and the road closures are Galadari, Continental and Hilton.
An official of the Hotel Galadari said they had advised guests that access would be difficult during the race nights.He said a wedding reception to be held on December 15 evening had been cancelled while guests had been told to come to the hotel before 5.30 p.m. on December 15.
An official of Hilton said they had advised guests to come at least three hours prior to an event while a Taj Hotel official said guests had been requested to take the side gate.
The night races are being organised by the Carlton Sports and Tharunyata Hetak in which the President’s son, Namal, is a key figure.
In a statement, the organisers said they had decided to reduce the number of events from 22 to 8 to ensure that the races would conclude at least by 1 a.m. so as to minimise inconvenience to people and the businesses in the area.
They said a subcommittee had also been appointed to overcome the problems they faced last year.
According to the organising committee, public roads in the vicinity will be open after every three events for half an hour for movement of hotel guests.
Last year, the race circuit began opposite Galadari Hotel on Lotus Road and ran towards Fort and took a left turn towards Chatham Street.
The drivers then took a right turn to Duke Street which runs towards Main Street opposite Gaffoor Building.
Then they turned left on Sir Baron Jayatilake Mawatha and drove past the Cargills Building on York Street.
The route then took a right turn to Bank of Ceylon Mawatha and towards Ceylon Continental Hotel and turned left towards the roundabout opposite Galadari Hotel where the lap was completed.
This year the track itself will be extended and will proceed along Galle Face Green up to the saluting stand near Hotel Taj.
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