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In the hear
of the night
By
Christopher Kamalendran and Tania Fernando
Despite a series of incidents and promise of a
crackdown, violent brawls are continuing in top city hotels with
high riding businessmen continuing to flaunt their powers.
Last weekend's
rumpus at the Trans Asia's exclusive night club, Library, exposed
how a powerful businessman had hired security forces personnel to
work as his part-time armed body guards.
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Ravi
won't talk
Ravi Wettasinghe when contacted by The Sunday Times promised
an interview, claiming that he had nothing to hide.
Later
he declined saying that he was not speaking on his "lawyers
advice".
Ravi
Wettasinghe, known to contribute towards political campaigns
in millions, was the local agent for a British bus consortium
comprising three bus companies Ibis, Transbus and Mayflower.
The consortium last week purchased 39% stake in the Colombo,
Metropolitan, Mahanuwara, Kalutara, Gampaha, Sabaragamuwa
and Rajarata bus companies.
In 1993,
Mr. Wettasinghe bought the government-owned Werehera Bus factory
for Rs. 25 million, but ran into problems and eventually left
the country forcing the government to pay Rs. 460 million
in salaries for the workers.
While
he was away, he had reportedly contributed Rs. 7 million to
the PA during an election campaign while also contributing
towards the UNP election campaigns. During last year's election
campaign, he is said to have provided a Rs. 3 million worth
bus for Ranil Wickremesinghe to carry out a US-style campaign.
He returned
to Sri Lanka in 1999 in his own lear jet and once again began
his business operations.
We
were not sleeping
In the face of criticism and disciplinary action
the Kompanna Veediya police are defending what they did or
could not do.
An officer
said that they did respond immediately, after a staff member
from the hotel had walked across to the station and alerted
them.
He claimed
they had difficulty in starting their jeep and since the mobile
unit was at Maligawatte it would have taken time to get to
the hotel.
He said
when they eventually got to the hotel the situation appeared
to be under control. The officer said he believed the transfer
of the officer was unjustified.
Checks
at hotels
As in high security establishments trained personnel
are to be deployed in big city hotels to screen or body check
those entering, Interior Minister John Amaratunga told The
Sunday Times.
He said
the Colombo Crime Division was in charge of the probe and
pledged that action would be taken against all offenders.
On their part hotels also are taking extra security precautions.
A spokesman said it was difficult for hotels to prevent VIPs
from bringing in their armed body guards. But if incidents
took place and particular offenders were identified they would
prevent those persons from entering again.
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Many
incidents have been reported with regard to brawls in night clubs
recently. Although tight security checks are being carried out after
repeated incidents of businessmen entering with body guards and
weapons being brandished and used to intimidate guests, the fights
continue regardless, most often with the involvement of private
bodyguards.
The incident
at Trans Asia last Sunday, was no different. Business tycoon, Ravi
Wettasinghe who was celebrating his takeover of state bus companies,
was present with four security personnel who were outside in the
porch of the hotel, according to eye witnesses.
Although
not a member of the Library, an exclusive members only night club,
for a fee of Rs. 78,000, he was enjoying the night with a few friends
and two foreigners who were representatives of the foreign principals.
However, after
a fight which was reportedly started by an accomplice of Mr. Wettasinghe
he too joined in the fight.
After a few
minutes his bodyguards had entered the premises and even taken an
unauthorized pistol out and threatened those around that they would
shoot if necessary, eye witnesses claimed. (see box for eye-witness
account)
While Mr. Wettasinghe
had left the hotel premises with the intention of bringing in more
goons, another businessman Milinda Ekanayake had requested a room
from the hotel but it was declined.
Police sources
said that one of the security personnel who was with Mr. Wettasinghe,
served as a bodyguard of a cabinet minister. They also said that
most of them were ex Air Force, Army and STF personnel.
Two months
ago Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe requested the police to
conduct an inquiry into a brawl that took place at a night club
in a five-star hotel in Colombo during the ICC Champions Trophy.
However todate little or no action has been taken against those
involved.
After the incident,
tighter security measures were implemented, during which a bodyguard
of a businessman was apprehended with a weapon just outside a hotel
in Colombo.
A senior police
official said although the possession of a weapon was a non-bailable
offence, in this instance the person was released.
"The weapon
was sent to the Government Analyst's department by the police, however,
the report was sent directly to the Magistrates Court and the report
said the weapon was not an automatic," the officer said.
He said in
most instances there was a lot of political influence and thus it
was difficult for the police to carry out their duties.
Although hotels
are trying to be more strict with the membership that they give
out, it seems that brawls cannot be avoided.The Trans Asia's Public
Relations Manager Chandreenie Kariyawasam said that they had increased
security for Friday and Saturday nights.
"When
incidents of this nature take place we usually ban the culprits
from patronizing the night club," she said.
"We are
also going to get all members to sign in when they arrive along
with their guest", she said, adding that this was a further
precaution against unruly incidents.
Meanwhile, the
Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) who took over the investigation of
the Trans Asia brawl said eight people had been remanded and a weapon
with live magazine and a vehicle had also been taken in.
The suspects
would be produced for an identification parade tomorrow.
CCD director
Gamini Seneviratne said that they were conducting further investigations.
"We have
questioned almost 25 people and would be taking action against all
those involved," he said, adding that they were looking for
others who were involved in the incident.
However, the
OIC of the Kompanni Veediya police station Chief Inspector Joseph
has been transferred to Vavuniya with immediate effect and another
officer who was on duty at the time of the incident has been interdicted.
The charge against them is that they did not respond immediately.
An officer
of the police station claimed they had not got a call from the hotel.
"The hotel had called the police emergency and we went as soon
as we got the message," he said.
The officer
said such fights were common in night clubs and therefore he felt
it was unjust to the transfer the OIC.
Meanwhile,
a member of the City Hotels Association said brawls in night clubs
would affect the night life in Colombo as people are reluctant to
frequent night clubs.
He said with
the government trying to introduce a night life into the city, it
was necessary to take action to ensure the safety of people and
that incidents like brawls do not take place.
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What eye
witnesses saw
The time was around 3.30 am on Sunday a group of people were
enjoying the music at the Library, at the Trans Asia Hotel.
There
was a sudden change in the atmosphere when a businessman who
was walking out knocked against someone seated at the bar.
However, the businessman without apologising assaulted the
other person when he had stared at him.
Ravi
Wettasinghe who was at that time walking out, turned back
to see what the problem was.
However
Mr. Wettasinghe without walking upto his friend, went over
to another guest who was also standing by the bar and shoved
him, claiming that he did not like his face.
"When
I asked him what the problem was he just turned and said I
don't like your face," the eye-witness said, adding that
Mr. Wettasinghe punched him and then he too started flinging
his arms around.
"A
few of my friends and hotel staff arrived and pulled us apart.
After which Mr. Wettasinghe left the night club. One of my
friends asked me to leave the Library, but I did not, since
I had not done anything wrong."
He also
said after a few minutes he saw four people walking into the
Library asking for him.
Since
they did not know who he was they started hitting everyone
else who was around.
"The
waiters put me in a room and after a few minutes a friend
of mine was brought too and he was hit on his face with a
bottle.
The brawl
had died down after a few minutes and while they were trying
to leave the hotel, a friend had come in and asked them not
to leave, because a gang was waiting outside to hit them,
he said.
"After
about 30 minutes I heard about 15-20 people shouting and tables
being toppled and people screaming. I took the flight of steps
and went down and hid behind a pillar for about one and a
half hours," the eye witness said.
He said
after a while he walked down to the basement and walked towards
Kompannee Veediya and took a three-wheeler to where his vehicle
was parked.
Another
eye-witness said that he had seen a man holding the Manager
of the Library and waving a weapon in his face. He was released
after he identified himself as the manager.
He also
said these personnel had threatened the hotel staff not to
give details of the incident warning that if they did so,
they would be dealt with severely.
Meanwhile,
another guest at the hotel, who was standing outside at the
Hotel porch at the time of the incident said, he was standing
outside when Mr. Wettasinghe had walked out and he was bleeding.
"I
asked him what was wrong and he said that there was a small
fight inside and left," he said.
"Suddenly
about four guys walked upto me and asked me where their mahattaya
was and then one of them took my car keys and kept asking
me who had assaulted their mahattaya, and refused to give
me back the keys.
Meanwhile,
a friend came and told me that my friends were being hit inside,"
he said.
He further said that after having gone inside he came out
to use his phone and while dialling someone came, grabbed
his phone and refused to give it back.
"While
I was arguing asking for my phone, I told Mr. Wettasinghe
who had returned with about 10-15 men to request these men
to stop fighting.
But he
said he did not know these men".
However,
a few employees from the hotel spoke to Mr. Wettasinghe and
requested that he get his men to stop the fighting. Then he
had requested his friend Milinda Ekanayake, to go inside and
ask them to stop the fighting.
Meanwhile,
while they were arguing about the key and the phone one of
the men had punched him and also hit a girl who arrived there
at that moment. "After they hit her I too started fighting
with them," he said.
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