Travel Security

The Tourism Police Service

In Sri Lanka, the safety of an individual tourist is a serious concern. Thus, there is no doubt that the Tourism Police Service has become an important part of ensuring that tourists are safe while enjoying their visit. The Tourism Police is a specialized unit within Sri Lanka’s police force whose main aim is to help out and protect visitors across the country. Here are some key points about it:

1. Role and Responsibilities

Tourism Police take care of any security issues concerning visitors to the country. Their duties include:

• Assisting tourists: These officers will provide assistance in cases like theft, harassment, or other disturbances experienced by the tourists.
• Crime prevention: Patrolling popular tourist places such as hotels or places of attraction in order to prevent crime activity from happening.
• Legal assistance: If a foreign national is faced with a law-related problem, they should go for help on how to file a complaint and go through the legal system.
• Information services: Providing advice on safety measures to follow, local laws, and culture to enrich tourism experiences while staying there.

2. Presence and Accessibility

Tourist police have a prominent presence throughout most tourist areas including Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Sigiriya; Negombo, Bentota, and Hikkaduwa among others. They don specific uniforms making them easily identifiable at other locations as well like at airports and railway stations.

3. Emergency Contact

The Tourism Police has a dedicated hotline that tourists can call anytime (24/7). When there is an emergency, dialing +94 11 242 1052 connects you directly to the headquarters of the Tourism Police in Colombo. Furthermore, often at police stations in tourist areas, specifically trained officers who speak English are assigned to assist foreign visitors.

4. Collaborations with Local Authorities

The Tourism Police work closely with local authorities, hotels and travel agencies, and so on to ensure the safety of tourists. Inspections are often done routinely and consciousness campaigns are held as ways of keeping high security standards within the tourism industry. Also, some hotels as well as other providers of accommodation have partnered with Tourism Police in addressing any possible security concerns and ensuring their guests stay in a safe environment.

5. Recommendations for Travellers

Although any place in Sri Lanka is generally safe, there are a few precautions that tourists should take:

• Be aware: At all times pay attention to your surroundings especially when in crowded places like markets and along beaches.
• Protect your property: Do not walk around with visible expensive items like laptops and cameras; put these things away at storage places provided by hotels.
• Registered transport services should be used: Always opt for taxis or tuk-tuks which are registered or hailed from well-known companies.
• Abide by local laws and customs; when you visit religious places keep in mind that certain dressing codes exist therefore taking oversized clothes may not be appropriate for holy places.

6. Reporting Incidents

In case of any problem during your stay, report it immediately to the nearest tourism police officer or local police station nearby. The Tourism Police have been trained to manage all kinds of situations ranging from minor inconveniences to more serious matters hence tourists can always depend on them for support and protection.