• Case before Mediation Board
• Less than 100 tourists arrested for breach of law in 2025: SLTDA 

The case involving two Israeli nationals accused of attacking a Sri Lankan surfer and his girlfriend in Arugam Bay will resume in court on Tuesday (9).

The Sunday Morning was unable to confirm the veracity of claims that the two Israelis had been deported. However, a senior official told The Sunday Morning on condition of anonymity that the accused may have voluntarily left Sri Lanka. 

The source claimed that deportation would be the final step to be taken after the completion of investigations. 

An official confirmation on whether the accused are in Sri Lanka was not received as of last evening.

When contacted yesterday (6), a delegate of Police Media Spokesperson Assistant Superintendent of Police F.U. Wootler told The Sunday Morning that the courts had directed the case to the Mediation Board and that the case would resume in court on 9 September after the Mediation Board report had been obtained.

On 29 August, two Israeli nationals were arrested by the Police in Arugam Bay in connection with an assault on a local surfer and his girlfriend.

It was reported that the incident had occurred when the vehicle of the Sri Lankan knocked on a bicycle causing the Israelis to fall in the midst of traffic. A report quoting the Sri Lankan surfer claimed that the Israelis had proceeded to throw a beer can at his girlfriend and physically assaulted him when he got off the vehicle.

After being produced before court, the suspects had been released on bail.

Meanwhile, amidst local outcry accusing foreigners on tourist visas of running businesses in tourist areas, a 29-year-old Russian national was arrested by the Unawatuna Tourist Police Unit. This arrest is unrelated to the Arugam Bay assault.

According to preliminary investigations, the woman had been operating a hotel and a restaurant in the Unawatuna area as a night club, in violation of visa rules.

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam said that for 2025, “not many” tourists had been arrested for wrongdoing. “It is not many, less than 100,” he said.

According to him, the SLTDA, Tourist Police, and Department of Immigration and Emigration have launched a combined action to ascertain whether tourists are engaged in illegal activity. The arrests that had been made so far were in relation to illegally running businesses, visa issues, and altercations among tourists, the Chairman said.