SLTB moots full-time Tourist Police Unit

Shirajiv Sirimane

LONDON: For the first time Sri Lanka Tourist Board (SLTB) will set up a Tourist Police Unit at their premises and it would be manned round the clock.

Tourism Minister Anura Bandaranaike said through this unit the Tourist Police system which is now not functioning properly would be streamlined in a bid to provide a better service to the industry.

More regional Tourist Police units would be set up and even locals could seek the assistance of this unit if they have any complaints against tourists.

There would be four specially trained police officers at the SLTB from next month and they would also update the SLTB on crime so that counter measures could also be taken by them.

He said that in addition they would soon introduce an online booking system for their website so that a tourist can book a hotel on line.

"This would bring in more Free Individual Travellers (FIT) to Sri Lanka," he said. More hotels too would be added to this site.

Meanwhile the SLTB is to intensify their programme on the combat of Child Sex Tourism (CST) and series of new measures have been taken in this regard.

Making a presentation at the WTM on child sex tourism the Chairman (SLTB) Udaya Nanayakkara said that Sri Lanka is the first country in the region to adopt a programme of this nature with the assistance with United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

He said that they have already contacted the international law enforcing authorities and soon a system would be in place at the Immigration office whenever a paedophile enters the country he would be detected.

In addition the embarkation cards signed before entering country would state that they do not tolerate child sex tourism and on flight documentaries and airport sign Boards would also displayed.

"We also want to bring in new policies, laws and regulations to combat CST," he said.

It is estimated that there are nearly 20,000 child sex workers and Economic disparity, lack of awareness, urban rural migration, gender discrimination and family break down are the main causes for this.

The SLTB - UNICEF discussions held in 2005 led to the development of the project which the Government of Sri Lanka is supporting to the maximum.

The planning group consisted of many members from private and public sectors.

Ministries of Tourism and Justice, Sri Lanka Police, Department of Immigration and Emigration, Education Ministry, Department of Social Services, Probation and Child Care, Civil Aviation Authority and Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Ministry of Women and Child Development.

"We also want to involve the private tourism sector to play a proactive role in combating CST," he said.