ECONOMYNEXT- Three hotel chains in Sri Lanka; Cinnamon, Citrus and Serendib, have offered properties to be used as quarantine centers to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the island.

The 150-room Citrus Waskaduwa, Serendib Leisure’s 154-room Club Dolphin in Negombo and the 81-room Trinco Blu by Cinnamon have been offered to the government as quarantine facilities.

John Keells Holdings Plc Chairman Krishan Balendra had written to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday offering the Cinnamon property in Trincomalee to be used as a quarantine centre on a temporary basis, should the need arise, the firm said in a statement.

Citrus Leisure Plc in a statement said its occupancies have fallen to a bare minimum due to global travel restrictions, and would continue to drop further in the future.

“The Board of Directors of Citrus Waskaduwa (Waskaduwa Beach Resort PLC) took into account the current crisis faced by the Nation and the world at large,” the firm said.

“…in keeping with the Group’s Nation mindedness ethos, the Board decided to offer its 150 roomed resort, Citrus Waskaduwa to be used as a quarantine center by the National Operations to Prevent Covid – 19 on a temporary basis, should the need arise.”

“In the event that the Authorities decide to use the resort temporarily, the resort will be completely decontaminated in keeping with international standards before normal resort operations commence.”

Hemas Holdings Plc’s Serendib Leisure has also offered up its Club Dolphin as a quarantine center.

In Vietnam over 150 hotels have registered with the government to provide facilities for quarantine as thousands of overseas Vietnamese return home. Restrictions on foreigners began only this week.

In addition to free quarantine provided by the government, incoming passengers could also choose from a range of paid options up to 5 star category for 14 days. Vietnam also tests arrivals.

Sri Lanka has halted arrivals except for returning Buddist pilgrims.

Sri Lanka has imposed an islandwide curfew, which will be temporarily lifted for eight hours on Monday for most of the country, and on Tuesday for the west coast cities Colombo, Gamapaha and Puttalam district.

So far, 77 coronavirus infected individuals have been identified, including a Chinese national who had recovered and left the island. (Colombo/Mar21/2020)