Membership of the ’80 Club’ at Independence Avenue in Colombo is resorting to court action against the Urban Development Authority (UDA) for having allegedly violated an agreement reached at the club’s takeover by the UDA.
As per a MoU, the UDA will run a bar and restaurants at the club which would have been for members only.
However, the UDA’s chairman unilaterally violated the agreement, and at the recent reopening of the refurbished club, gave a lavish dinner exclusively for his cronies.
All the invitees were served with expensive local and foreign liquor and meals.
Membership of the private club questions if the public money could be used to hold private parties in that manner.
They are also against an email message by the CEO Rohan Fernandopulle pertaining to a circular issued by the UDA chairman with regard to charges levied from VIPs at the club.
The subject minister can entertain guests to a maximum cost of Rs. 100,000 per occasion with a 50 per cent discount.
For the UDA chairman, the ceiling cost is Rs. 75,000 and for its directors it is Rs. 50,000, with a 50 per cent discount given for both.
The club was renovated with the inclusion of new restaurants, conference halls and a private cinema by the Navy at a Rs. 411 million cost after its takeover in 2020 by the UDA, said its chairman Nimesh Herath at its reopening.
Catering services for the club are done by Waters Edge at Battaramulla, also run by the UDA which comes under the urban development and housing ministry.
