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Dispute over classy hotel’s ownership; Police guard placed
A stand-off between a hotelier and parties acting on behalf of the original British investor in a multi-million rupee boutique hotel in Wadduwa near Panadura continued after the hotelier who is the CEO was forcibly locked out, with the police continuing to guard the high-end hotel.
The hotel, ‘Serene Pavilions’, was stormed by a group of 50 persons on Wednesday following a dispute over its ownership and since then has been placed under Police security with both parties having their own security guards, as tourists watch the tussle unfolding.
Superintendent of Police (Panadura Division) Kapila Kadupitiya told the Sunday Times that the Police have been deployed there following complaints from both sides. “We hope to report facts about the case to court on Monday,” he said.
The star class hotel’s Deputy Chairman and CEO Anura Lokuhetty told the Sunday Times that some board members had an ‘illegal’ board meeting last month in Colombo. He said a complaint was lodged at the Slave Island police station regarding this meeting.
He said when he called for a board meeting at his residence a group of persons including those dressed in Army uniform stormed his residence in Rajagiriya and prevented him from holding a meeting. A complaint was lodged with the Welikada police.
On Wednesday, a group of 50 persons stormed the hotel and threatened him, he said. Senior Management of the Citrus Leisure Group controlled by businessman Dilith Jayaweera was among those who arrived at the hotel.
Mr. Jayaweera told the Sunday Times that Mr Lokuhetty had tried get rid of a British investor and he had intervened in the matter only on the request of the investor. He said the British national had lodged a complaint with the Colombo Crime Division. (CCD).
The luxury boutique hotel spread over five acres consists of 12 pavilions. Its original investor is the owner of Yorkshire Television, one of Britain’s largest independent television stations.
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