Police to take action on foreign tourist harassment recorded on social media
The Police Department will track incidents of foreign tourist harassment recorded on social media and take action against local perpetrators, its spokesman said this week, just days after two Sri Lankans were arrested—one for cheating, the other on three charges including verbal abuse—and released on hefty bails.
“The police are going to take some action, whatever we can do,” Deputy Inspector General of Police Nihal Thalduwa told the Sunday Times. “It is because we have to control this situation—always cheating, cheating, cheating. There are so many complaints.”
“There is an advantage in that these YouTubers take videos and publish them,” he continued, saying the police will use such evidence to be proactive. “Other foreigners have also faced situations but have never complained. We have to control this.”
The 51-year-old owner of a street food stall in Aluthkade, Colombo, was arrested after he tried to charge an American tourist Rs. 1,900 for a string-hopper “kottu” and was chased away “threateningly” when he questioned the price. The tourist filmed it on his camera phone, and the clip was widely circulated.
The stall owner lost his temper when the tourist tried to confirm the price with the “kottu” chef, shouting that it was not good to question the worker when the boss had already told him the rate. The food vendor was arrested by Keselwatte police and charged under sections 332 of the Penal Code for unauthorised blocking, section 342 for harassment, and section 486 for criminal intimidation, the officer-in-charge of the Keselwatte police told the Sunday Times. He was released on Rs. 50,000 cash bail and Rs. 1 million surety bail.
The tourist had already left the country but was contacted by police via social media, DIG Thalduwa said. While he did not wish to file a complaint, he expressed appreciation regarding the action taken, he added.
A second man was arrested in Kalutara under Section 400 of the Penal Code, which relates to cheating. He invited a tourist into a roadside restaurant, and demanded Rs. 1,000 for “ulundu vadai” and a cup of tea. He reduced it to Rs. 800 when questioned. The foreigner suspected the price was too high and verified this by asking a passer-by, who said a “vadai” usually costs Rs. 100–150, prompting the tout to refund some money.
The 60-year-old was remanded by the Kalutara magistrate. The case will be taken up again on April 22. This tourist, too, a Belgian national, was contacted via social media, DIG Thalduwa said, and had sent in an online complaint.