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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.

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.

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.

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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