A video clip showing a Sri Lankan man assaulting a foreign tourist, which went viral on social media over the weekend, has prompted a response from police, who clarified that the incident took place several months ago in Weligama.
According to a statement issued by the Police Media Division, the incident occurred on 14 February 2024 at Pelena Beach, Weligama. The victim, a Filipino national, had lodged a complaint stating that he was assaulted by an employee of a surf training centre following a disagreement over filming.
The suspect, a 24-year-old local, was arrested on the same day and presented before the Matara Magistrate’s Court. Legal proceedings are ongoing, with the next court date set for 11 September 2025.
The video, which was posted on the tourist’s YouTube channel on Saturday (24), has since garnered significant attention online. However, police emphasised that the matter had been dealt with at the time and urged the public not to misrepresent past incidents as recent developments.
“While police take all complaints by foreign tourists seriously—including those highlighted on social media—circulating outdated incidents as current events misleads the public and harms the country’s image,” the statement read.
The Police also cautioned that legal action may be taken against individuals who deliberately share old content with the intention of creating a false narrative or damaging Sri Lanka’s reputation.
