English-speaking Police officers to be deployed for stations in tourist zones

The Government has directed the Police Department to deploy English-speaking Police officers for the Police stations in major tourist areas of the country, Cabinet Spokesman and Acting Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena.

He said that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has been instructed in writing to take initiate necessary measures in this regard.

The IGP has been informed to increase the Police mobile services in these tourist zones.

Special focus is on the present Tourist Police Units situated in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Moragalla in Aluthgama, Narigama in Hikkaduwa, Arugam Bay and Eththukala in Negombo.

Police officers are trained by Tourist Police in English and other foreign languages.

The Tourist Police was established to create a hassle free, secure, safe and memorable experience to all tourists within Sri Lanka, said Sri Lanka Police.

The Minister has warned that anyone who harassing tourists would be dealt with and the Police has been instructed to carry out the law regardless of the person’s status.

However, tourist industry operators raise issues of security of the tourists amid a few incidents that took place in recent times. The Minister says that necessary action is taken to bring the culprits into books and to provide safety for tourists.

Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka jumped over 21 per cent in March this year compared to last year, data released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Wednesday showed.