Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera and the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has questioned the senior Police authorities on the ridiculous notice put up by the Habaraduwa Community Police Unit requesting tourists to dress according to the “Sri Lankan culture” when travelling in the area.
Government Information Director Sudarshana Gunawardena said Samaraweera yesterday brought the matter to the attention of Law and Order Minister Ranjith Madddumabandara and asked him to intervene in removing the notice. Maddumabandara has agreed to the request, in principle, and promised to take necessary action, Colombo Telegraph learns.
The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority also tweeted that it took up the matter with all relevant authorities as such demands were detrimental to the tourism industry of Sri Lanka.
In a strongly-worded tweet, the SLTDA said it was concerned about the notice displayed by the Community Police Unit in Habaraduwa.
“Dress code policing” is unneeded and unwarranted for tourists enjoying the scenic beaches of Sri Lanka. SLTDA has taken this up with all relevant authorities. We expect to see progress soon,” it also said.
Following interventions by the Finance Minister and the SLTDA, IGP Pujith Jayasuriya has asked for a preliminary report from the regional Police authorities about the incident. The notice is expected to be removed today.
the move by the Community Police Unit came under severe criticism on social media as it resembled the conduct of a “Cultural Police” interfering in every aspect of the country’s civilian life.
K.Pillai / October 18, 2018
This news is an expose’ of the duplicitous hypocrisy which has landed us in the present financial mess. We can add ‘moral mess’ to the pot. Without blaming anyone let us read.
Finance Minister Mangala M finds the notice put up by the Habaraduwa Community Police Unit ‘ridiculous’.
Government Information Director Sudharshana Gunawardhena asks the Minister of Law and Order Ranjith Madddumabandara to take necessary action’. {What the hell are you doing Tourism Minister?}
The IGP breaks his meditation and asks for report.
The lot want the (offensive??) Notice removed!
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Some seventy years ago, the slogan was to ‘Defend our culture, language & religion’? It should be clear that the ‘enemies’ are within. They are the business interests who puppeteered the pogroms, the war etc. etc to push over competition and now are trying to reap the harvest.
What next? Of course tourist’ accessibility to alcohol, drugs, casinos etc. etc.
What are the original ‘Defenders’ doing? Looking for a Hitler to lead us.
We need to wake up – urgently.
Is the language/religion-divide real?
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Suriya / October 19, 2018
Should this weaponized Facebook activism be the focus of the Finance minster when the county’s economy and currency is crashing, imports restricted, construction of new hotels halted, etc while politicians still indulge in luxury lifestyles and overseas jaunts on public funds?
Facebook and social media should be tracked and monitored at this time as minorities will be scapegoated for the economic crisis just as Muslims were targeted earlier this year.
Along with Fake News and fake security and disaster threats various social, ethnic and religious divisions are being used and “weaponised” on social media by external players who like to pretend that Lanka is a “deeply divided” society and use this Raw narrative to de-stabilize the country and exploit the people who are struggling with economic crisis.
The RAW fact is that the “deeply divided society” narrative is ironically promoted by internal and external Fake Peace and Reconciliation NGOs and religious and ethnic entrepreneurs who keep pushing the “New Constitution”, mainly to fill their pockets.
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Buramphisincho / October 19, 2018
I think even in Europe, depending on you travel to the places, there are kind of dislays.
So, I believe if Tourists would behave wild, that should be warned to them rightly.
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Ranjini Lamahewa / October 18, 2018
I think the same rule already applied in many places, no one is allowed to go to a temple semi nude (in a bikini)
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JD / October 18, 2018
Mangala Samaraweera must lose his elelctorate this time. HE is too much. Even though he is the finance minister, he is trying to be anti-Sri lankan minister too. He is simply working fo foreign interests.
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Adrian / October 18, 2018
A waste of taxpayers’ money! Costs of constructing, erecting and dismantling the same should be deducted from the salaries of police personnel involved.
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Eagle Eye / October 18, 2018
The Lankadeepa has brought to light a case of a TNA MP raping 56 women, taping these rapes & selling them as porn for Rs.200 each. This TNA MP is from Thunukkai in Mullaitivu district. May be the effect of foreign women going almost nude.
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Shamil / October 19, 2018
American Eagle, up to dirty tricks again? Divide, distract and rule the native Modayas?!
Name and shame or shut up .
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Native Vedda / October 19, 2018
Shamil
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“American Eagle, up to dirty tricks again?”
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It never stopped.
You must have been in deep deep deep sleep.
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Jo / October 19, 2018
Uuuh, „fantastic“ argument! Women going „almost nude“ (at the beach maybe?) as a justification for being raped? „It is their own fault“, will that be the next conclusion?
I am missing another board. „No raping of women!!“. Or is this proper according to Sri Lanka’s culture???
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Champa / October 18, 2018
Actually, I fully support this initiative.
However, it could have phrased as per similar situations in other countries such as; Italy, Spain and France.
The notice could have read as follows :
“Please respect our culture and avoid wearing beachwear off the beach and in the city.”
If not, you could say;
“Please respect our culture and wear a sarong or a similar beach cover-up when leaving the beach.” Then you could show a picture.
According to The Traveller’s Magazine, in Italy (Riviera and Lerici) covering up before leaving the beach is a must.
Tourists are supposed to “act like Romans, when in Rome.”
In some areas such as South of Naples, women are fined up to Euro 300 for wearing mini-skirts, mini-shorts and showing too much cleavage in the city!!!
In Vatican city, shorts and skirts should be up to to knee length and everybody is expected to cover their shoulders and legs when entering museums and churches.
In many European countries, people wearing very short shorts, shorts skirts and tank tops are not allowed to enter museums.
In ancient cities such as Athens, wearing high heels is forbidden.
In North Korea, women are not allowed to wear trousers.
In Thailand and China, local girls in swimsuits are not seen in beaches.
Even Americans are more conservative than we think. In California, even men are not allowed to enter restaurants wearing sleeveless tops!
Tourists are expected to respect traditional dress code when visiting Muslim countries.
It is time we highlight our culture in Sri Lanka, too.
Tourists have no problem in respecting local cultures in Asia, Europe, Middle East and America.
In the context of Sri Lanka, it is our “Kalu Sudda (Local Sudda)” who want to be more “Sudda” than “real Sudda” are trying to downgrade our own culture criticizing initiatives such as this.
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Champa / October 19, 2018
Alright. I read the “title” only now.
I don’t support “removing the notice.”
I support the notice. Only thing is, it should be rephrased as per the guidelines for tourists in other countries such as; asking them to wear “beach cover-ups” off the beach.
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Native Vedda / October 19, 2018
Champa ………………………… the …………… profession
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You have been missing in the last few days.
Did you visit 29, De saram Place, Colombo 10 for your regular check up?
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Champa / October 19, 2018
Hindian Vedda …. founder of the ………………
I can’t be here 24/7 like you. I don’t live on a pension. I have to make a living. I will be busy next 3 weeks, too.
What is in that address?
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Champa / October 19, 2018
Who initiated this? Community Police Unit of Habaraduwa. Excellent move!!!
Community Police represents the community in the area and their sentiments. Therefore, they can put up notices like this.
Only thing, as I said “rephrase” the message as indicated in my previous comment and say that they will be fined, if failed to adhere to the guidelines.
It is time the Police charging fines on semi-naked women on the streets, cities and public places like in Spain and some cities in France and Italy.
There is a specific dress code for Dubai malls also. Our people follow the dress code when they visit Dubai and Vatican. Why not here?
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Champa / October 19, 2018
I read a news which says that these sign boards which were erected at the premises of a museum and a children’s park were removed after social media protest. Social media protest?
Some social media are run by youth whose IQ is very low and those who have no regard for the culture. The best example is Pidurangala naked-bottom boys. Some asked whether farmers who wear loin clothes will also be arrested if they go to Pidurangala. Farmers never wear loin clothes outside paddy fields. They wear clean sarongs and shirts when visit places. At a TV programme, once a famous singer who was in his prime, was asked to name Sri Lanka’s capital, his answer was Kandy!!!
This notice I understand was not placed in the beach but near a museum and a children’s park. What’s wrong with that? As I said, in European countries, women are not allowed to walk in the city wearing bikinis. They have to wear a caftan, a sarong, a large scarf or a tunic over bikini.
Idiotic government should hand over the country to children and go home if they run the country lunatics like this.
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Burt / October 18, 2018
This is a right move. Sri Lanka wants western tourists to visit and considering the temperature in the two regions and that they are on vacation they should be able to dress what they want other than going nude.
Dress code is just hypocrisy considering the crap that goes on in the country. Dint one of our past chief justices get caught getting a blow job in the parking lot?
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gamini / October 18, 2018
The display board itself is showing semi nudes. What is there to ask not to dress like that? Bloody perverted minds who are unable to resist themselves acting like paragons of virtue. If it is not nipped in the bud, it won’t be long before these mad hatters make rules for the rest of us as well.
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K A Sumanasekera / October 19, 2018
This is news to me….
When did Mangala join the Bikini Brigade?..
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Even more interesting new this morning..
Modi’s Deputy Foreign Minister was forced out from the Job, because some chick came out and said the Bloke has been sexually harrssing them…
And they weren’t even wearing Bikinis.
And the Deputy is a Muslim..
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What is Mangala up to.?
Yahapalanistas in Colombo don’t have to sweat scoring chicks. Even the ones in Bikinis..
In fact, I see Colombo chicks have taken up Bikinis after Yahapalanaya kicked in.
So this is not a real issue, Unless Mangala has a hidden agenda to arouse some of the Baiya Politcians in the South and get them in to trouble before the Next Elections.
My Elders say Mangala is a Master Strategists when it comes to Politks …..
May be Mangala wants to win the Elections through Erections., this time….
Wonder where Dr Ranil is?….
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Analyst / October 19, 2018
KA Sum
Please check your women before they leave your house whether they’re dressed as per Buddhist culture!
I see the women in SL dressed out to kill Perverts and Paedophiles when they’re out and about.
Check that out before flying the Sinhalaya flag of Buddhism.
Put Posters at the Airport at Arrivals and Departure halls advising women to dress appropriately at certain cultural places, not walking the streets Semi naked etc.
This APPLIES TO SRILANKAN WOMEN TOO IN BOLD Please.
So that we can stop tourists coming to this country and STOP TOURISM indefinitely, we want to fly the flag! Yes!!
All the Ministers who are not in favour of this Poster , Bump them off Rajaballa style!! Yes? No??
There should be a limit as a Srilankan not to annihilate my country with my extreme views!!
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charles / October 19, 2018
What does Mangala have to do with Police/cultural matters. Look after the Finance ministry. Of course he has no idea about economics. He is good at talking so called rights.
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Jeevan Hoot / October 19, 2018
whenever there’s something immoral Mangala there
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Dulci aachchi / October 19, 2018
Pujitha putha IGP
Please lie low quietly for sometime until the dust settles. Come back with more vigour after
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justice / October 19, 2018
Our ancient dress code was superior to those of western nations today.
It was modest but beautiful.
https://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1280&bih=623&ei=1BXJW4egHqiO5wKH9oa4Aw&q=Ancient+Sinhala+and+Tamil+dress&oq=Ancient+Sinhala+and+Tamil+dress&gs_l=img.12…4372.34246.0.39568.31.9.0.22.22.0.110.847.8j1.9.0….0…1ac.1.64.img..0.17.968…0j0i24k1.0.T0o6kq_roZ0
There were no tourists those days………………………………………Leonard Wolf as the first one
to record it.
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nalmen / October 19, 2018
ther is a big differece between beaches and temples
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WalaGembaRaja / October 19, 2018
Our people cannot even express themselves or use appropriate words to communicate. Why does it refer to “Sri Lankan culture”, “suite” and total BS? They could have just said, “Nudity is not tolerated…Dress appropriately…and be safe.” or something congenial. In my view, it’s safe for foreigners to cover up than over exposing themselves, and then getting sexually molested and raped at the hands of our perverts. Even the US medics that came ashore from a US naval ship were sexually exploited by a massage therapist in Trinco a few months ago. Our tourist police is a useless division. Therefore, its our responsibility to protect and provide security to leisure seekers whether foreign or local. I agree that such notices must be benign, politically correct and agreeable for all parties.
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Dionysus / October 19, 2018
I find the display of a bulging female gut between sari and jacket much more offensive.
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K.Anaga / October 19, 2018
I remember a story where a woman was charged in the courts for walking in the beach nude. The judge asked her whether it was true and this is what she said ” no your honour it is an out right lie. I was wearing by beach slippers, wrist watch and a pair of sunglasses- and how can you consider me to be nude? Case discharged with a warning that she should at least wear a Bikini in future.
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John / October 19, 2018
This seedy character Mangalaya is responsible for destroying Sri Lanka’s great Sinhala-Buddhist culture single-handedly. Are Matara voters aware of his double life????
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muthubanda / October 19, 2018
Well said Mangala, the only Minister with the guts to challenge hypocrisy. Just in time to stall the Sigiriya Community police from placing a shawl on the Sigiriya frescoes.
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Latha / October 19, 2018
Vedda
” Did you visit 29…………”
You may be a regular visitor of that place. I see your mind is always occupied with a certain kind of profession by reading your comments. Is their a connection between that place, you & that profession?
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Wera / October 19, 2018
The fact of the matter is that we need tourism. We are not a rich country. We are mostly a nation of three wheeler drivers, shop(Kade) owners and mostly dumb thuggish politicians. Our largest revenue comes from remittances from all the folk who went abroad by plane and boat. Even the few jobs created in the industrial zones go a begging since no one wants to do them. Most of the commentators here are trolls looking for an angle to throw mud at this government. They are either paid or unpaid former beneficiaries of the corrupt crooked and murderous former government. Nobody who gets an education wants to stick around in Sri Lanka unless they are medical doctors. So tourist come to the island not for its culture but for its sunny beaches. A bikini is what the females prefer to wear on the beach. While some of our natives like to ogle them and fantasize about them. Others out of shear frustration get angry and seek refuge in this so called culture. Get over the culture and let the tourism sector thrive it is one of the few things going well.
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Champa / October 19, 2018
Wera
Really? Tourism sector is one of the few things going well??
For your information, the contribution of the tourism and travel sector to country’s GDP is ONLY 11.1% in 2014. It was expected to be 11.7% in 2018. I am not sure whether it is achieved or not.
There is no reason for sacrificing our culture for 0.1% of the female tourists who walk around the city wearing bikinis who obviously not do the same even in European cities.
About commenters here: The majority of commenters, I would say approx. 99% have their own mind. Only 1% get agitated every time the government is being criticized with reason. Your comment shows that you belong to the latter category.
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raman / October 19, 2018
Champa dear,
“There is no reason for sacrificing our culture for 0.1% of the female tourists “
What is this culture you are talking about? Is it the fact that Sri Lankans search most on Google for sex? I wonder why they don’t search for Dhamma desanas if they are as cultural as you claim?
One thing is for sure. Sri Lankans are the biggest hypocrites in the world.
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Mango-Nando / October 19, 2018
Tourists visiting any country must learn to respect the culture of the visiting country, just as in many destinations in the Middle East. If both countries (host and destination) have common cultural affinities, then there is no reason for concern. However, if those cultural variations are more diverse to the point of being outright offensive, then the social norms of the locality must be protected through communication of some type, in order to bring awareness to such sensitivities. On the other hand, billboards such as this type, will actually defeat its purpose, since the image portrayed is in-itself a sexual awakening/arousal of some sort. The other defeating factor is, unless these effects of foreign influences are controlled to within deined resorts or areas, its negative fallouts (drugs, sex and wild parties) are bound to dilute the innocence of the general populace, whilst eroding the ethical and moral values. Ultimately, just like everything else, higher commercial success will become the only driving force and motivating factor. Everything else will fall by the wayside.
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Analyst / October 19, 2018
Can Srilankan men have drunken club parties, Facebook parties been seen canoodling half naked Srilankan Chicks??
Clubbing with female partners and loose SL women ok??
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chiv / October 19, 2018
I see a few, who are eager to give lessons on Lankan culture. My advise to them is to contact Retarded .Lt. Reginald Shamal Perera who often shares his esteemed and valuable opinion on Lankan culture in CT. CAUTION : Please read few of his comments before you contact him.
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K.Pillai / October 19, 2018
Unplanned (laissez faire) development of tourism is only a temporary revenue earner. Thailand for example, is left having to deal with sex tourism, drugs, casinos, money laundering and the like.
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There is a case to develop ‘green-moral-tourism’ which actively prohibits ‘immoral-tourism”. In due course this might turn out to be a success.
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Here the rent-a-moral-police must be kept out. The groups that campaigned on the ‘defence’ of our religion, culture and way of life may help us out here.
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Just a couple of years back, a practicing Buddhist Briton who came all the way to learn aspects of meditation. Some ‘moralists’ harassed the Briton for a tattoo on her upper arm. (Later it turned out that crisp GBP notes was the motivation). The incident affected us adversely.
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To cut a long story short: We must prevent immoral-tourism taking hold. The immorality includes deviant sex tourism, alcohol, drugs, gambling, money laundering etc.
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