COLOMBO, April 15: Sri Lanka's police have begun keeping track of foreign tourists to “ensure their own safety”, officials announced on Monday. Hotels and guest houses have been told to submit weekly reports of their foreign guests as part of a new security plan for tourists, police spokesman Buddhika Siriwardena said. “Tourists are important to our economy. This is to ensure their own safety,” Siriwardena said. “This scheme will ensure officers have details of tourists in their areas to protect them.”

Hotel owners said they have been asked to pass on passport and visa details of all foreigners in addition to information already given to the authorities for maintaining industry-related statistics.—AFP