Ensuring safety, Sri Lanka tightens 20 tourist hotspot security

Colombo, April 24: Reciprocating by tightening the security force, the Sri Lankan Government has announced that it would establish new police posts and step up patrols at popular resorts after a spate of sexual attacks and violence targeting foreign tourists.

 

Ensuring safety of visitors, Police Chief Pujith Jayasundara said that they would set up 20 new stations at vacation hotspots to protect visitors from criminals. He further said that the department needs more people but for now they are making every possible thing comes its way to ensure productivity.

He added the measures were decided after a Dutch tourist was sexually harassed and several other tourists were assaulted by a gang at a hotel in the southern resort town of Mirissa last week.

Law and Order Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara said yesterday that they will strengthen the tourist police as soon as possible and ensure the safety of tourists. The minister noted that 14 arrests have been made in connection with the Mirissa incident of harassment of female tourists and the assault on five Israeli tourists at the Midigama beach.

Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs Ministry John Amaratunga said he intends to request for the assistance of the Navy to further fortify security on the country’s beaches.