The Government is currently assessing the security situation in all metropolitan hotels as this matter had come under discussion between Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse and Tourism Minister Milinda Moragoda on the establishment of the City Hotels Security Advisory Committee headed by Bernard Goonetileke that took place on Wednesday at the Defence Secretary’s office in Colombo.

Goonetilleke told the Daily Financial Times yesterday that the establishment of the committee was carried out in a bid to assess the current status of the security in the city hotels.  Rajapaksa had focused on the fact that major hotels and business establishments are close to each other and therefore there is an additional reason for both sides to take additional precautions and noted that among many things the desirability of carrying out baggage and parcel checks when they are delivered to hotels so that attempts are not made to compromise security.

“In the coming weeks we will meet with the senior managers and owners of the city hotels individually and discuss the arrangements in place at present and if necessary the requirement for additional arrangements,” he explained.  This will be carried out in a bid to “not allow for any threats to the city hotels to take place,” Goonetilleke said.

“In the coming weeks we will meet with the senior managers and owners of the city hotels individually, and discuss the arrangements in place at present and if necessary the requirement for additional arrangements,”

The city Hotels Association has been having a continued interaction with the defence authorities in the past six months, according to Goonetilleke on the security situation in city hotels and he noted that this would provide additional confidence among travelers at the hotels that they will be staying in.

In response to the query as to whether there was a likelihood of any concerns by travellers in this respect, he pointed out, “I don’t see why they should be concerned when their security is taken care of.”

The chairman explained that while the hotels have their own security arrangements these will be assessed and depending on the facilities available will be analysed as to whether any additional measures are required.