The Small and Medium Scale Tourism Entrepreneurs Association has called on the government to introduce stronger regulations to protect tourists, following a series of recent harassment incidents.
Speaking to the media, Association President Samira Senaka de Silva said there is currently no dedicated authority to monitor or respond effectively to cases of harassment involving both local and foreign visitors.
He noted that several incidents reported in recent weeks have raised serious concerns about tourist safety. Referring to a widely circulated video of a young man exposing himself to a female tourist, de Silva said the case highlights a serious gap in the country’s ability to protect travellers.
“The youth in the video exposed his private parts to intentionally make the tourist uncomfortable. This raises serious questions about how safe female tourists are in this country. Authorities must investigate this incident thoroughly and ensure strong measures are in place to safeguard visitors,” he said.
De Silva added that Sri Lanka’s tourism industry must be properly regulated to prevent such behaviour and maintain a safe, welcoming environment for all travellers.
