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Lamborghini, Ferrari and Hummers burnt to cinders
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- Burnt shells: A Lamborghini and Hummer. Pix by Indika Handuwala
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- On fire: The Avenra Gardens Hotel (above) and (top) three reception halls were left gutted
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- Cedric Nishantha Fernando
Police have identified several suspects who led and were involved in the attacks on two prominent hotels and related buildings in Negombo as residents who took part in the pillage continued to return the items they looted from the establishments.
A senior police officer said a group with political affiliations had instigated area residents, urging them to attack the two establishments as they were owned by ruling party politicians in the area.
He said, however, it had been observed that while the attack was taking place several people were allowed to carry away items, including tables, chairs, fans air conditioners and ever crockery before the place was set on fire.
The officer said that some of the furniture and items had been returned to the hotel while others had been dumped on the roadside after the police began collecting information on those involved in the looting.
It was around 5p.m. on Monday, a crowd estimated to be more than 1,000 descended on the Avenra Gardens Hotel in Negombo. As the angry mob smashed their way into the hotel, its director of operations Cedric Nishantha Fernando, could see it all from his office window.
“There were men, women and even children among them. They were all intent on destruction and looting.”
By the end of that night, much of the hotel had been looted and set alight. The hotel’s three reception halls, from which it earns much of its income by hosting weddings and events, were left gutted, as were its 36 rooms. The mob also set fire to 13 luxury vehicles that belonged to the hotel. They included a Lamborghini, a Ferrari, two Hummers, a stretch limousine, an antique car, a staff bus and several vans. Most of the vehicles were mainly hired for hotel functions, Mr Fernando said. The vehicles are now burnt shells.
The mob also attacked the home of Avenra owner Danesh De Silva, located in one part of the hotel premises. Also destroyed were the Avenra Wok restaurant and the Avenra Dynasty luxury residence.
After destroying Avenra Gardens, the mob marched to the Avenra Bayfonte restaurant located some three kilometres away, where they repeated the same exercise.
Avenra Gardens employs 210 staff while Avenra Bayfonte has about 70 staff on its payroll. All are now without employment, Mr Fernando lamented.
Meanwhile, those who booked weddings and other events with the hotel have also been left in anguish. Some 80 functions had been booked for May alone and most had not taken place when the attack occurred. The hotel has given clients the option of moving scheduled functions to the Avenra Gangaara Hotel in Wennappuwa if they agree.
Mr Fernando vehemently denied allegations levelled on social media that a prominent government politician owned shares in the hotel and that its owner was a close associate of government higher-ups. “Neither the hotel nor the owner is connected to politics. We believe the attacks were motivated by jealousy and a desire to loot,” he claimed.
Soon after the attacks, photographs and videos of alleged looters making off with items from the hotel went viral on social media. Since the publication of these photographs and videos and announcements that police will investigate and bring charges against those involved, some items were being brought back and dumped outside the hotel, Mr Fernando said. But this was only a fraction of what was stolen. Police have so far arrested four.
At least five people had been shot during the unrest at Avenra Gardens. One later died in hospital. A wounded 19-year-old died on Friday, taking the death toll to two. Circumstances surrounding the shooting are still unclear and police said investigations are now underway.
A mob also looted and destroyed the Grandeeza Hotel at Kurana in Negombo. About 250 hotel workers are now jobless. Issuing a statement, the hotel management said that it was shutting down operations indefinitely.
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