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High drama at posh boutique hotel
The Board room drama at the multi-million rupee boutique hotel in Wadduwa took a new turn this week when the CEO and Deputy Chairman Anura Lokuhetty claimed that armed men entered the hotel early Friday morning, assaulted staff members, abducted him in a white van, kept a pistol to his head, stole his documents and dumped him on the road. He says he had to be hospitalised due to the injuries he suffered.
Panadura Magistrate C. Weliwatte has remanded six suspects till Monday in connection with the incident after they were arrested by Police. Superintendent of Police (Panadura Division) Kapia Kadupitiya told the Sunday Times that on information received by the Wadduwa Police a team had been rushed to the hotel early Friday morning and found that two groups in the hotel had clashed with each other.
He said after the clash was settled, Mr. Lokuhetty had called over at the Wadduwa police station and claimed that he had been assaulted inside the hotel premises and later abducted in a white van before being dropped off in Panadura. Investigations are underway to ascertain whether Mr. Lokuhetty’s claim was correct, he said.
Hotel employees told the Sunday Times that the clashes took place around 5.30 a.m. and that two directors had called over at the hotel to address the staff about its future operations. Mr. Lokuhetty told the Sunday Times that he was in the hotel when he was woken up with a loud noise and had seen about 10 persons armed with swords, clubs and knives.
He said he remained indoors while the gang had tried to break into his room and as they failed to enter they entered from the pool side by breaking through a glass. He said he hid in the shower cubicle of the bathroom, but eight of them broke into his room and one of them held a pistol at his head, while they stole his gold chain worth Rs. 250,000 and assaulted him. He was then forcibly taken to the entrance of the hotel where he says he saw some of his staff members also assaulted.
He said there were three policemen at the gate, and as the gang that had abducted him put aside their weapons, he was able to run back into the hotel and hide in the toilet of another pavilion. When he came out after about 30 minutes to his surprise he found the intruders still in the hotel premises. He said he was beaten for a second time, put inside a white van and dropped off in a lonely place after an hour’s drive. He had to come back to the hotel in a three-wheeler.
By this time, he says he saw the Police had arrived at the hotel. Mr. Jith Warnakulasuriya, one of the director’s of the hotel opposing Mr. Lokuhetty, told the Sunday Times that he visited the hotel to inform the staff that the Board of Directors of Serene Pavillions had appointed Citrus Leisure PLC to take over the management of the hotel from Friday.
He said that Citrus Leisure had offered its management services on the request of British national and media owner Clive Leach, the majority share holder. “We wanted to have a staff meeting and explain to the staff about the changes and thereafter left the location,” he said denying allegations that persons supporting them were involved in assaulting Mr. Lokuhetty or abducting him.
Hotel staff told the Sunday Times that there was a “minor clash” and arguments between the two groups, but they did not witness an abduction. Mr. Lokuhetty has in the meantime got himself admitted to the Colombo National Hospital.
The dispute over the management of this boutique hotel is currently pending before the Commercial High Court of Colombo, and the matter is due to be taken up on November 1.
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