Sri Lanka tightens security at tourist hotspots

The Government will be strengthening the police force in tourist hotspots in a bid to contain incidents of violent attacks against travellers to these destinations in the wake of the recent Mirissa and Weligama attacks.
Interior Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara addressing the media in Colombo today (Friday) said that they would be establishing 20 more Tourist Police units and identify problem areas and monitor them to keep these incidents in check.
He pointed out that a few incidents that had occurred in the tourism industry in Sri Lanka had negatively impacted internationally and would look at strengthening the security of these areas.
The government has allocated Rs.30 million to expand on the infrastructure of the Tourist Police units in tourist hotspots, he said.
IGP Pujith Jayasundera addressing the media said that the police required more officers and infrastructure to carry out special jobs but noted that they would deploy their services particularly in the coastal areas.
He pointed out that despite one of the foreign victims of the Mirissa attack refusing to appear in court to identify the culprits they would pursue the case based on evidence already obtained some of which was noted to be sufficient to proceed further.
Currently, the police are conducting investigations concerning the delay in taking up the case by the Weligama police.
Tourism Development Minister John Amaratunga pointed out that more than simply a police post they required the presence of the police personnel on the beaches patrolling the areas that was likely to act as a deterrent to violence attacks being repeated. (SD)