Robberies of tourists in Sri Lanka hit 6-year high in 2012

More foreigners were robbed in Sri Lanka during the year 2012 compared to the previous six years, Sri Lanka Tourist Police statistics revealed.

Some 79 complaints of robbery were recorded last year while 59 foreigners were robbed in 2011, reports Ceylon Today. Twenty cases of robbery were reported in 2007, 14 in 2008, 26 in 2009 and 26 in 2010.
 
Meanwhile, 243 and 146 complaints from tourists were received in 2010 and  2012 respectively.
 
In 2012, complaint about one rape and 16 cases of sexual harassment were lodged by foreign tourists. Acting Director of the Tourist Police, SSP Maxi Proctor said the increase in offences is due to the increase in tourist arrivals and strict measures are being taken to reduce crimes against tourists.

Army deserter, waiter held for theft of tourists
 
Two suspects who stole and attempted sell good worth around Rs500,000 belonging to two British nationals staying at a tourist hotel in Marawila, have been arrested by officers of the Chilaw Division intelligence unit, reports Ada Derana.

The suspects were taken into custody in the Kokkawila area in on April 1.. The goods included laptop, a digital camera, two camera lenses, two small printers and maps and documents.

The suspects arrested over the theft are said to be an army deserter and a waiter in the hotel where the tourists had stayed. The things were stolen from the hotel room by the suspects while the foreigners were away.

Kantale Police Division special bureau had received a tip-off that the suspects were preparing to sell the stolen items to a person in Kokkawila, Chilaw.

Acting on this information, the Chilaw Division intelligence unit had arrested the suspects in a raid.


 

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