SLTDA Chairman complains to IGP over incident involving a Police Officer and a tourist

3 July 2022 01:10 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 17 Bookmark

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Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) yesterday lodged a complaint with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) over an incident involving a Police Officer and a tourist at the petrol shed in Galle on Friday.

SLTDA Chairman Priyantha Fernando said a video is being circulated on social media showing a senior police officer refusing to allow a tourist on a motorbike to get fuel from the shed in Galle.

"This video clip has been in circulation reaching millions of people not only in Sri Lanka but in most foreign countries. It has created a major negative impact from a tourism perspective surmounting unrepairable damage at a time when we are doing our very best to ensure that tourists do not undergo any harassment and inconvenience in spite of the economic difficulties that we as Sri Lankans have to undergo," the Chairman said in a letter to the IGP.

I am certain that you will agree with me that tourism is an important industry that is capable of generating the much-required foreign exchange earnings for Sri Lanka. It creates direct and indirect employment opportunities for almost 4 million Sri Lankans. The manner in which the Police Officer conducted himself is disgraceful and reflects negatively on the entire Police Force of Sri Lanka, the letter further stated.
The Chairman said he has requested the SSP Nawaz who is in charge of the Tourist Police to take the necessary steps through the Tourist Police to ensure the safety and minimal inconvenience to tourists while in Sri Lanka.

"In a bid to mitigate the damage that is being caused and to counter the damage, thankful if you could make an official statement for which maximum publicity will be arranged. It could be either a written statement or a video recording that could be disseminated on YouTube and other social media platforms," he told IGP in his letter.

Comments - 17

Triple X Sunday, 03 July 2022 08:06 AM

Well done, transfer that bugger to the jungle.

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Tissa Fernando Sunday, 03 July 2022 08:33 AM

Was the tourist coming in the queue or jumping the queue? They meed to come in queue because when we are in their countries we have to strictly be in the queue. Just because someone is white you cannot give them priority? How many of other guys who earn in dollars in the queue? So this argument of foreign exchange thing is rubbish. If the tourist was on the queue then the policeman should be disciplined. People who earn or save dollars are in the queue, do not forget that.

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Parimalam Sunday, 03 July 2022 08:43 AM

I saw the video and the Police office was polite and told the fact and essential service such as health is more important. I think the police should promote the officer rather than demanding an apology

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Outlaw Sunday, 03 July 2022 08:48 AM

How do you expect the tourist industry to improve with such uneducated, impolite, rude, thugs within the law.

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Dee Sunday, 03 July 2022 08:50 AM

Seriously didn't see any fault in the response from the police officer. Happy that he upheld the ruling equally to everyone (hope he actually did?)

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Sunil Sunday, 03 July 2022 09:12 AM

Most of our police officers have plenty of brawn but no brain and no common sense or decency at all. The word 'discretion' is unknown to them. The damage that this fool did is irreparable. This video is being shared all over the world and thousands of potential tourists would have made up their minds, never to visit Sri Lanka.

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Gert Jan, the Netherlands Sunday, 03 July 2022 09:20 AM

How can tourists enjoy themselves when they see people suffering?

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Rotten Leaders' Guild Sunday, 03 July 2022 09:59 AM

The IGP himself is a useless leader and the world knows that. There is no point asking him for an apology nor any statement. Everyone knows that to be in such positions, one must be a boot-licker.

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Paddy Sunday, 03 July 2022 10:12 AM

I think the police officer was right. He followed the national policy. Did anyone asked him to waive the policy for tourists? If he allowed someone other than health services worker, again he will be in trouble. Let tourists circulate this news all over the world, but will they allow us to break their national policy for any reason?

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Goerge Cobin Sunday, 03 July 2022 10:27 AM

It is very clear that Sri Lanka is not safe for tourists to travel now! Sri Lanka is rich in resources and the tourism is so diverse. But, at this time of crisis, it is very inconvenient for visitors to enjoy a happy holiday!

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Jef Sunday, 03 July 2022 10:32 AM

The whole country is in lacking when it comes to civilisation behaviour and ommunication we need REFORMS basics must be thought at home and schools people don't respect each other like the golden days specialy majority public sectors public servents have no class what so ever no proper guidens no training No disiplin no feelings no respect no fear its a huge problem in our society (we need compulsory Army Training done for all when reach 18 years for a period specially the male generation) iam sure will improve the society behavior and the image of this nation in future

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Suren Sunday, 03 July 2022 01:55 PM

it was published that tourists don't have to queue. If they have 2 weeks holiday, they cannot spend a few days in a queue. This is a kind of reward that they come, even in this difficult time, and spend their foreign currency here. We should accept this and be grateful for their support and not again play the national card.

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Ram Sunday, 03 July 2022 03:02 PM

Good complaint with merit made to IGP to be swept under carpet as has happened before

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Anne Karunaratne Sunday, 03 July 2022 03:20 PM

Was this tourist going to pay for the petrol in dollars?????? It was one foreigner who came on a bike to get petrol and hats off to the police officer who had the guts to tell him to join the queue. After all it wasn't an entire tourist coach that was refused petrol! If we are in a foreign country we too have to abide by their laws!!

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mnsmart Sunday, 03 July 2022 05:17 PM

Rather than an apology publicized, why not inform the entire world tourists not to come to Sri Lanka until such time this incapable President and the government is replaced?

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Sam Silva Sunday, 03 July 2022 06:38 PM

Cheap tourist on a motor bike! these people don't spend any money. Sri Lankan tax payers are dying on the petrol line and this guy want to jump the line. We need to promote this officer and fire the tourist board chairman.

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GHT Sunday, 03 July 2022 07:12 PM

Police are for DAMAGING everything, it is come to light when it has been happened to a TOURIST, do you know, that every Sri Lankan is DISGRACED by most POLICEMEN on duty in VARIOUS WAYS? For a MERE DOLLAR you all are coming to SAFEGUARD a foreigner but did you think about the FELLOW CITIZENS who are HARASSED by the POLICEMEN WORKING for MEAN BRIBE?

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