Is this the way ‘Paradise isle’ inhabitants treat foreign tourists?

On Wednesday, September 20 around 7 or 7.30 p.m., I boarded a Highway bus to Negombo from the Pettah Private Bus stand. The big bus was full so I got busy with my phone just like all others. Suddenly someone prodded me and when I looked up it was the conductor for the tickets.

A couple of minutes later, I heard the conductor shouting “Four Hundred!”, “Four Hundred!” nastily and someone from behind shouting back “No, I won’t give!” I looked back, in the row behind me, there was a young foreign couple and it was the girl who retorted. I then asked her whether she bought the ticket and she said she paid Rs. 300. I told her a ticket cost Rs.130 and they should get the balance and asked her why the conductor was demanding another Rs. 400. She pointed to their baggage – two medium-sized suitcases kept upright just behind the last row of passenger seats, on a sort of a narrow shelf. I was shocked! As the suitcases were not on two seats where some conductors charge for the seats taken, and at Rs.200 for each bag which was more than the money paid for a ticket one way to Negombo!

Then the conductor was shouting “get down!” get down!” By now we were passing the Technical College. I was alarmed, wondering as to how they could get off with their bags etc. in the middle of the journey and a foreign couple at that and at that hour! I asked him why he was charging for the baggage. He did not answer. When the young man next to me advised me “let the bus conductor and the tourist sort it out,” I protested and the girl next to him said “now when we go abroad, we don’t have to pay for our baggage.” I agreed and we continued discussing the rude behaviour of the conductor and the guy kept quiet. With an attitude like this, no wonder commuters are harassed daily by these nasty conductors and bus drivers! Going by private buses especially in Sri Lanka, with the deafening music is such an annoying experience to say the least!

Then there was this wonderful young man from Kochchikade who protested loudly and sternly that he cannot make them get down like that in the middle of the journey. Mind you, 95% were male passengers in that bus and not a single protested except this young man! It was just this young man who stood up and I salute him!

When we approached Negombo around 8.30 p.m., I had to get off one halt before the main bus terminal but as the tourists did not get down, I thought I should get down at the terminal itself lest they be harassed once again.

To my surprise, another lady too stayed on. The boy who stood up for them too got down with another boy. The young tourist couple alighted last as they had to collect their bags and before we could get to them the taxi drivers surrounded them. When we went towards the couple these taxi drivers became very hostile and were just as vicious to us as the bus conductor!

The couple’s concern now was to get a room. I suggested they go to Ethukala where there are plenty of guest houses. The taxi drivers were still shouting. Then the other lady took the phone and said she would call the police and when she was dialling, they became quiet.

This lady told the young couple that she will go to the police and also find a place for them to stay and the grateful couple went with her. When I came home, I promptly called the Ethukala Tourist Police who asked me to contact the Negombo Police. I spoke to a courteous police officer, Sergeant Gamage at the special unit who took down all details and promised to take appropriate action.

When I followed up the next day he said he had already notified the Negombo Bus Depot and informed them that the conductor in question and the driver would have to report to the Negombo Police Station. Then the following day when I called, Sgt. Gamage, he said that this bus belonged to the Katunayake Depot and that he had instructed them to ask the conductor and the driver to report to the Negombo Police station.

How can we Sri Lankans of this so-called “paradise isle” full of metta, karunawa etc. etc. allow tourists to face such an ordeal? No wonder, one sees online people warn people about travelling to Sri Lanka as they could be killed, raped, gang raped, fleeced of their precious money and belongings.

The Tourist Ministry, Tourist Police and the Private/Public Transport Ministry should take note and afford tourists, whether they be high end tourists or backpackers the necessary courtesy, security and make their stay in the country, a pleasant and memorable one.

On Saturday the 23rd morning I got a call from Sgt. Gamage to say that the conductor and the driver had reported to the Negombo Police station and an inquiry was going on.

I salute Sgt. Gamage, for following up on this complaint and am so thankful and proud that there are still such fine officers in the Police Force. Nelum Wickramasinghe Negombo