Sri Lanka beefs up tourism policing after attacks

Sri Lanka will set up 20 new police posts and patrols at popular scenic places after several sexual attacks and violence against foreign tourists in the recent weeks, police chief said today.

Inspector General Pujith Jayasundera Daud said there will also be increased patrolling at popular resorts to protect tourists.

"I wish we had more men and resources for this job, but we are making adjustments to our deployments to ensure better productivity," Jayasundara said.

The move follows after a Dutch tourist was sexually harassed and several other tourists were assaulted by a gang at a hotel in the southern resort town of Mirissa last week.

Five Israeli tourists were also attacked in the same area this week and 14 men have been arrested over the two incidents.

Tourism Minister John Amaratunga appealed to victims to come forward and promised to cover the expenses of those who return to the island to help identify perpetrators.

He, however, warned that women tourists should be more careful and not venture out late night as a precaution. Most Western nations issued travel advisories warning on sexual crimes against women in Sri Lanka.

In 2014, a local politician near a southern resort was sentenced to 20 years in prison for murdering a British tourist and raping his girlfriend.