Courtesy The Daily News

Hemas Holdings Plc has offered its Club Hotel Dolphin in Negombo as a quarantine centre to the Government if the need arises, as part of wider public-private sector efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Speaking to Daily Mirror, Mr. Abbas Esufally, Chairman of HEMAS Leisure stated that, we feel that as a Sri Lankan company the private sector must stand up and rise to the occasion. This is a national crisis and we must come together to combat it. We spoke to Mrs. Kimarli Fernando, Chairperson of Sri Lanka Tourism and Mr. Sanath Ukwatte, President of THASL and decided that we must offer our services and assistance to the Government. Our hotel, Club Hotel Dolphin in Waikkal is at the heart of the outbreak in Puttalam and we felt that the government could make use of our property at this crucial hour,” he said. 

“We conveyed our intention to both the Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva and President’s Chief Advisor, Mr. Lalith Weeratunge and they have responded positively and stated that they will take it up the moment the need for it arises. We communicated that we will continue to man the Engineering and Kitchen departments and the Army will help to run and manage the rest of the operations. We will ask our staff to volunteer to continue working at the property and assist the army. Furthermore, our HEMAS factory companies, HEMAS Pharmaceutical and Morrison’s are busy manufacturing critically required pharmaceuticals, soaps, hand sanitizers and other urgently required essential items.” he added.

Club Hotel Dolphin is a 4-star property with 154 rooms situated in Waikkal. It is owned by Serendib Hotels Plc, which is part of Hemas Holdings Plc.