Hotel racism - ‘We don’t take Sri Lankans’

London is a place full of hundreds of different foreign/alien faces. They come from all over the world. The 'London Machine' is operated by the people who have arrived here between the sun rising Nicobar island and the sun setting American Samoa. There is a small percentage of migrants who live here illegally, employed illegally.

Wherever they come from, whatever the status they have, they are human and Fundamental Rights are observed and protected by the government here. If there is a violation in any form of Human Rights or Fundamental Rights, the government takes immediate action against the violator.

Denied access

The victim is protected without giving any consideration to his race, ethnic origin, political affiliation, sexuality, disability, belief or religion. Most of the times the violators are punished and the victims are compensated.

It is not that there are no racists in the United Kingdom. They say that the British National Party is a face of a racist group. But according to them their priority is to stop people coming into the UK and to deport people who live there illegally. They have won a seat in the European Parliament. But there is a growing opposition to this front throughout the United Kingdom.

It is also evident that there is racism among some police officers in the UK. But if reported the offenders face the sack and could pay fines if found guilty. There were quite a few payouts being offered recently to some officers who faced racism at work.

In the United Kingdom there is no limit on entry to any hotel or restaurant unless they are in the category of 'Members Only'. As a law abiding person you can hang around in any public place with no restrictions. But there are two instances I know where people have denied access due to some reason. No one allowed into McDonald restaurants with 'uncovered chest'.

The other is that you are not allowed into the main pavilion of the Lords Cricket ground without a tie. I experienced the latter restriction myself sometime ago.

We have been living and practising Law in the UK for the past 27 years. It is not an exaggeration if I say that I have had no 'Visible' experience of racism in the United Kingdom. When we were struggling in law courts at our early stages without knowing proper procedures, the judges themselves helped us to overcome the difficulties. I still thank them and remember those days with utmost appreciation.

Foreign influence

Anyway, when white people cultivated the land 'Ceylon' they bent the backbone of the Sri Lankan people with such power that they still struggle to make it straight. I have some evidence and experience to prove that 'unfair' allegation.

It is not unfounded that some areas in Sri Lanka are under foreign influence. It has expanded during last few years to the extent of home ownership over hotels, restaurants and other businesses. I have no objection to a foreigner acquiring a property under Sri Lankan law.

If there is a way why not exercise it. Apart from hotels and restaurants there are medical Spas and Ayurvedic treatment centres that have been started by Westerners who are either on work permits or settled on the basis of marriage to a Sri Lankan. Some of those centres are owned by Sri Lankans too. Visitors from all over the world receive treatment at these places. They rest. They enjoy. The bill is around one hundred thousand rupees a week.

The workers are of Sri Lankan origin. It brings a considerable amount of foreign exchange to this country. Whether the businesses pay proper income taxes is not a question to ask as they ease unemployment.

But in some of those Spas and centres there is no place for Sri Lankan visitors. “We don’t take Sri Lankans”, the big-mouthed proud manager denies access to locals even if they are capable of spending such means to spend time there. Who allows these people to dictate terms and become racists to Sri Lankans by not letting them receive treatment in their Spars and centres? Why are local authorities keeping a blind eye on these matters? Who can justify the acts of some foreigner who comes from the other end of the world, marries a Sri Lankan to obtain a resident visa or gets a work permit to buy a hotel or a Spa and have the guts to deny access to locals? Is there any reason not to take action against these racists by the relevant authorities?

We have a proud leadership which did not bow its head to the unreasonable West. Now all Sri Lankans, whether Sinhalease, Tamil, Muslim or Burgher can travel freely in Sri Lanka and have access to any area with no restrictions. It is time to eliminate racism in some restaurants, spas and Ayurvedic centres.