Police on prowl for rabble rousers

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

The Police setup a special operations unit to handle complaints related to religious tensions, in the wake of a rise in such incidents in recent times.

Police Media Spokesman SSP Prishantha Jayakody said the unit commenced operations on Saturday.

Complaints relating to incidents that may cause religious tensions can be conveyed to the special operations unit on - 0113 182 904 or 0113 188 75 and fax 0112 423 944.

Meanwhile, the Police are planning to increase the cadre in the Tourist Police and the number of units in tourist zones.

Tourism Police Division sources said two Tourist Police units are to be set up in Mount Lavinia and Arugam Bay tourist zones this month.

The Police units would also be set up in inland tourist destinations, they said.

The Police are also to recruit more computer literate policemen with a knowledge of english to the Tourist Police Unit.

The move is expected to help the Tourist Police handle the increasing number of complaints of harassment of tourists by touts.

Tourism Police Division sources said most complaints have been lodged by tourists from the West.