Sri Lanka hotels likely to close
View(s):Some Sri Lanka’s hotels are likely to close by the end of the month or until tourists leave the country while some others opt to remain open.
“We are currently staying open and we and most others too are open till the end of the month, (after that) we might be shutting down, a decision we are still debating,” Sri Lanka Hotels Association President Sanath Ukwatte told the Business Times on Friday.
He noted that there would be no point of having hotels open; some staff will be sent on paid and unpaid leave as weddings and other events have either been postponed or cancelled.
Currently there are only a few guests and whoever wishes to leave can do so and those willing to stay on will be accommodated, he said.
At present, SriLankan Airlines, Emirates, Edelweiss and Qatar Airways are among those operating flights to and out of the country.
However, some hotels like the Jetwing group are looking at staying open with a skeletal staff in operation even though guests may leave.
“I think we need to do a complete lockdown and clear this mess otherwise this will get out of hand. We need to get this out of the way and people must take it seriously,” Jetwing Chairman Hiran Cooray said.
He noted that while they have a few guests waiting to get back they will not close the hotels and would remain open since rooms need to be cleaned, staff will not be asked to leave and they will continue to be paid and be granted their normal leave for those wanting to take it.
Some tourists are facing issues since they don’t have flights to go back and they will continue to stay, Mr. Cooray said. (SD)