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Suspects sought for setting fire to part of Trinco hotel
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A part of a tourist hotel in Kuchchaveli, Trincomalee has been set on fire on July 16 at night following a long-running dispute.
The suspects are said to be fishermen. The hotelier claims that the police had failed to act, so far.
“This hotel was to be opened by the end of this month, and suddenly this happened, costing me around three million rupees,” said A.F.M. Sadhath, the owner of the hotel.
The hotel was being built near the Kumurupiddi beach area, 20 kilometres north of the Kuchchaveli Police area.
Mr Sadhath told the Sunday Times that building of six villas, a restaurant area, and a 20-room complex began last year. The six villas with private pool and garden were to be opened by the end of this month.
“I was threatened by the group of fishermen several times during the past year,” he said. The group is made up of individuals from Negombo and who engage in fishery in the Kumburupiddi area from May to November. Concerns had risen that they were littering the area.
Mr Sadhath had informed the Eastern Province Tourism Bureau and was later directed to file a complaint with the Kuchchaveli Police. Even after the complaint was filed, the police had not acted, he claimed.
He said the fishermen were staying in three huts built on the beach. He had asked the fishermen not to litter, and he had then received constant threats, he alleged.
Later, when the Eastern Province local government authorities, together with the tri-forces, engaged in several beach cleanups during the past few months, the huts of the group of fishermen were removed. The huts had been deemed to be illegally built.
Mr Sadhath said the fishermen then began demanding compensation.
Immediately after the fire, Mr Sadhath had informed the police, but the police had arrived only in the afternoon of the following day.
He claimed the Kuchchaveli Police has not taken any action for the past seven days.
A senior officer at the Kuchchaveli Police said the lack of footage from CCTV had made it difficult to identify suspects.
He believes that the group of fishermen was responsible because the group has not been seen since.
The damaged part of the villa following the fire
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