Coastal belt free from touts thanks to Tourist Police

Nimal WIJESINGHE - Anuradhapura Additional District Group Corr.

The program launched by the Tourist Police to ensure a safe and care-free stay for tourists visiting Sri Lanka has been a success and not a single complaint had been received from tourists in the coastal belt during the last six months, said SSP Lakshman Kaluarachchi, Director Sri Lanka Tourist Police.

Kaluarachchi said this at a meeting of the Bhikkhu Advisory Committee of the Tourist Ministry at the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Maluwa Temple Anuradhapura. Tourism Minister Milinda Moragoda was also present. Kaluarachchi said under this program, touts and other anti-social elements harassing tourists are rehabilitated instead of punishment through legal action.

The Tourist Police which received 40 complaints from tourists during the first eight months last year had not received a single complaint since then due to the success of this rehabilitation program.

Kaluarachchi said this program will be introduced in Sigiriya and Mihintale tourist zones.

Kaluarachchi said an emergency telephone line 1912 is in operation 24 hours a day to receive complaints relating to harassments to tourists.