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Walking through the corridors of time
By Ruwanthi Herat Gunaratne
When he walks down the nearly two hundred year old corridors of the Mount Lavinia Hotel, doors open and cheery "Hellos" are said but as for time; it almost seems to stand still.

Daya Mohotti, presently Chief Operations Manager is an institution at this gracious old hotel, having counted 55 years of service last November. "Our predecessors have told us how he would "walk the walk" every morning - smartly dressed in his shorts and shirt and holding on to an old "basthama" (walking stick). He would be all over the hotel barking orders in the fashion of an estate Kankany," smile the present employees of the hotel.

Originally from Weligama, Mr. Mohotti proceeded to the Pembroke Academy in Colombo to complete his higher studies. "I was just out of school and wanted to settle down to a job." Of the first three applications he sent out, it was the Mount Lavinia Hotel that responded. "I was quite excited, I had my first shave for that interview," he grins replacing the person I am interviewing with a cheeky schoolboy for just a moment.

C. H. Z. Fernando, who interviewed him was impressed. And on November 1, 1947, Daya Mohotti entered the gates of the hotel ready to take on the world. "I was to receive a tremendous bargain, Rs. 27 as my basic salary plus board and lodging thrown in free. What more could a 17-year-old just out of school wish for?"

Every morning the bathroom labourer would quietly slip past his bedroom door to fill up the washbasin. "This was such luxury," he laughs. After six months as a junior clerk in the Accounts Department, Mr. Mohotti was promoted to the post of accounts clerk. "The entire Accounts Department numbered just six," he says. "During my 55 years of service the main non-structural change in the hotel was how it changed hands every few years up until 1975 when it was bought over by the family of the present Chairman, Sanath Ukwatte.

No thoughts of moving on? "I was happy here, every single owner treated me well and a reason for me to leave never arose." But in 1988 he decided it was time to tender his resignation. It was accepted and as a tribute to his contribution to the hotel the present Chairman's father presented him with a parting gift. A month-long vacation at a destination of his choice. "I had hardly ever taken leave, so I took the opportunity and visited London." At the end of the month he called the Chairman back in Sri Lanka. "Shall I stay on for a few more weeks? "No way Sir, we need you here," came the reply. "I took the next flight back home.

So the resignation? "It did not turn out to be a resignation in the end," he smiles, his infectious grin appearing again. "I was back the next day fulfilling all my old duties at the hotel." And so began a new chapter that has now lasted almost another twenty years.

Accounts were his forte. He was made a ledger keeper from 1947 and continued in this capacity until 1967. "Working as a cashier was one of the toughest jobs for almost none of the waiters could write a bill - so I got the brunt of it. There were only three main hotels in Colombo at the time, and the tourists hardly ever came by air. So whenever a ship docked at the harbour, Thomas Cook's would call saying that about 500 needed lunch. And mind you, they used to call at 10 in the morning and we had to have lunch ready by 12 noon. It was not an easy task."

One lunch in particular has stayed in his mind. "One of the waiters was being very slow in taking orders and I unwittingly barked at him in front of Mr. Shatcock, who was in charge of the hotel at the time. That night I couldn't sleep, thinking that I was to be kicked out the next day and wondering if it would be better if I simply handed over my keys and resigned. I was hoping against hope that tomorrow would not dawn."

Dawn it did. "I was summoned to Mr. Shatcock's office and informed that he was so happy with the way I was handling things that I was to be given a raise of Rs 25.," he says. "It was a large amount at the time."

Any guests he remembers, especially? "Ah, that would be Gregory Peck," he smiles. "Every evening when he was here he would walk down the main stairway of the hotel dressed in all his finery - a suit, a waistcoat; the works," he grins and adds with a twinkle, "All the young Colombo 7 ladies would be standing in the lobby gaping at him."

We've managed to convince Mr. Mohotti that we need to take a peek at his famous treasure trove, so he opens his well-handled book of newspaper clippings. "It's a bit messy, but I've managed to collect nearly all the newspaper clippings that had anything to do with the hotel." Within the pages are Sunday Brunch advertisements for Rs. 5.50 and a bold headline detailing how Britain's Prince Philip refused "Lunu Miris" when he dropped by for breakfast.

Kirk Douglas is another celebrity who features in Mr. Mohotti's book of clippings. "He was here for a movie and was reported to have brought 40 shirts with him. He was using Bobby Arnolda's vehicle and it was said that before he left he presented all the forty shirts to his driver. The minute the young Tea Executives in Colombo got wind of this, there was a rush to purchase the "Kirk Douglas shirts! The driver ended up a much wealthier man!"

His favourite place in the hotel? "Before the Little Hut was renovated it used to have these discreet little corners which I really enjoyed." The Little Hut, one of Colombo's first nightclubs was patronized by expatriates and ambassadors and was famous for its Arrack Cocktail. "We did not have an air conditioner then, but it was great fun." Favourite dish? "That, I'd need some time to think over," he smiles. "Some time ago we had a chef S. K. M. de Silva - and it was his special innovation "Seer S. K. M." that has to be my favourite. Unfortunately we don't serve that particular dish anymore!"

Nothing however could have prepared young Mohotti for the task of his life; the construction and furnishing of a new wing of 89 rooms within six months for the Non- Aligned Conference. "We worked morning, noon and night and managed to complete it smack on time! It was such an achievement - I'd been a building contractor for six months!"

After being first promoted to the post of Credit Manager in 1967, Mr. Mohotti was then made the Personnel Manager in 1974 until he ended up in his present position as Chief Operations Manager. I am tempted to ask the question, what then, did you NOT do at the hotel? "Well," the famous grin appears, "I never ventured into the cooking department!"

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