STF to patrol tourist hotspots
The government will be deploying the Special Task Force (STF) to patrol the beaches of Mirissa after the recent violent attacks on tourists allegedly by a mafia group operating in the area as beach boys, with local political backing.
IGP Pujith Jayasundera told reporters on Friday that the police required more officers and infrastructure to carry out special jobs but noted that they would deploy their services particularly in the coastal areas.
He pointed out that despite one of the foreign victims of the Mirissa attack refusing to appear in court to identify the culprits they would pursue the case based on evidence already obtained some of which was noted to be sufficient to proceed further.
On the sidelines of the media briefing, he said the STF would be deployed in the area though no permanent post would be established in this regard.
It was pointed out that the STF in future too would be brought in to ensure law and order prevails as and when necessary.
Tourism Development Minister John Amaratunga pointed out that more than simply a police post they required the presence of the police personnel on the beaches patrolling the areas that was likely to act as a deterrent to violent attacks being repeated.
The minister also said that he would be requesting President Maithripala Sirisena to assist in this regard by engaging the Sri Lanka Navy to patrol the beaches as well.
He pointed out that during the conduct of the court case they could also use Skype technology in a bid to obtain increased information and evidence from victims and eye witnesses that were reluctant to physically appear in courts.
The minister also noted that they would brief the foreign missions this week in the country on the current situation in the Mirissa and Weligama areas and assure of safety to their nationals when visiting the country.
Interior Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara addressing the media in Colombo today said that they would be establishing 20 more Tourist Police units and identify problem areas and monitor them to keep these incidents in check.
Currently, the police are conducting investigations on the cause of the delay in taking up the case by the Weligama police. Incidentally, the complainants had informed the Tourist Police of the incident which then instructed the Weligama police to investigate.
Weligama Urban Council Chairman Rehan Jayawickreme, at the same briefing on Friday, considered this to be an “isolated incident” noting that such incidents of violent attacks had not been reported from Mirissa previously.