Move to check harassment:

New guidelines soon to protect tourists

by Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

New guidelines and regulations will come into effect to protect tourists visiting the country and make their stay free from any hassle.

The Ceylon Tourism Authority along with the Tourist Police has drawn up a plan to educate touts and three-wheeler taxi drivers to refrain from exploiting foreign tourists to safeguard the country’s image.

Steps will be taken to prosecute those who harass tourists, Police Media Spokesman SSP Prishantha Jayakody told the Sunday Observer.

He said the police have received numerous complaints from tourists and managers of hotels regarding harassment against three-wheeler taxi drivers and touts. A workshop was held in Colombo recently to educate the public on measures that would help prevent tourist harassment. A friendly three-wheeler taxi service will be launched for the benefit of tourists to prevent harassment in trains and at railway stations.

Sri Lanka Tourism Authority Director Viplula Wanigasekera, Sri Lanka Railways General Manager, Ariyaratne, Additional General Manager, Nalaka Bandara and Chief Inspector N. Edirisinghe of the Tourist police held discussions in this connection.

They also discussed the opening of special counters for tourists at railway stations.

Discussions were also held recently at the auditorium of the Tourism Authority with railway station masters, railway security officers and railway guards in various parts of the country on strategies to prevent harassment to tourists.

SSP Jayakody said that he had held discussions with Nuwara Eliya Mayor Mahinda Dodampage and boat owners to ensure that tourists are not intimidated at Gregory’s Lake.