Legal stance on beach boys

Hikkaduwa has been combated and sexual acts related to children cannot also be found at present. Specifically he mentioned community awareness over such illegal acts.

‘We could detect a case of child abuse in 2009; a Australian Pastor trying to abuse a boy child in Hikkaduwa, but we got the news beforehand and arrested him. My service here is from 2009, and since then no special case was reported, especially at present there are strict regulations. Especially in the tourist season we make patrols 6,7 times a day. People in the community are also aware of such cases than before. If they notice something suspicious, soon they will make a call and inform us. That’s a good movement emerged within the community, and even beach boys actively contribute in that regard. Because, they also know if something happened first blame would come on them’

Hence, in analyzing the above facts it can be said that child prostitution and child sex tourism have been combated, compared with the time when it was specifically emphasized in the 1980s and 1990s.

same category. When questioned about the action of providing them a proper ‘guide license’, they stated that licenses were granted from 2009 to 2012, but it did not proceed from 2013. Basically it became clear that there are no regulations, which were enacted specifically on beach boys, and they are considered as ‘tourism facilitators’ similar to other small-scale stakeholders.

On the other hand, discussions with the Hikkaduwa Tourist Police revealed further details about legal stance and beach boys’ existence in the local community. Officer in Charge of the Tourist Police also confirmed that, although they are generally known as beach boys, officially categorized under ‘tourism facilitators’. Tourist Police keeps personal information of all tourist facilitators including beach boys, and a photograph with their fingerprint is also attached to each record. Expressing his opinions on beach boys he stated as below:

‘Before I come to Hikkaduwa, I had a different attitude on beach boys. Earlier I have worked in Kalutara, but beach boys in Kalutara differ from Hikkaduwa beach boys; in Kalutara most of them have shorthair and they don’t wear dreadlocks either. General concept given about a criminal, even in our police training is that ‘a person with longhair and pierced ears can be considered as a criminal’. So, at first I also looked at them in a stereotypical way. But later understood they follow those fashions due to the nature of their work and tourists like them that way’

When questioned about legal actions over beach boys, he also confirmed that there are no particular rules for beach boys.

‘Tourist Police was established with the intention of providing more secure environment for tourists and to control other negative influences such as nudism, drug smuggling, and prostitution. I have been servicing here for 5 years. Usually we have 6,7 officers here, but in tourist season we increase the staff about to 20, and we make patrols 6,7 times a day along the beach and in environs. No incidence was reported about child abuse after the case in 2009. Some boys come to beach in younger age like 16, 17 years, mostly because their brothers, relatives or friends working in tourism sector. We can’t restrict them coming to beach, but we pay special attention on them.

Especially when we notice such young boys, we warn their families to send them school.

As for beach boys, I think 60% of them are good, 40% can be said ‘bad’. ‘Bad’ means there are some boys who are addicted to drugs, some make troubles at guesthouses, restaurants and on the beach. But, in that case tourists also start arguments or fights, when they got drunk’

Table 5-9: Summary of Received Complaints: Hikkaduwa Police Tourist Unit 2009-2014

Table 5-9 shows all complaints made by tourists from 2009 to 2014. It was revealed that a complaint made particularly against a beach boy is very rare. As far as data was concerned, it can be seen that a comparatively large number of complaints are about

‘lost property’. This fact was further questioned since people in Hikkaduwa and general society have accused beach boys on robberies.

‘As I said these complaints are also not particularly against beach boys. On the other hand, we are aware of a fact that some tourists make false complaints to claim compensation from their travel insurances back home. So, they finally asked for a letter certified about their loss. Sometimes people from outer cities engage in robberies.

Especially in last season (2014) burglary cases took place continuously, one after another. Finally we caught him, but he was a young man from Ambalangoda. He was a drug addict, used to come to Hikkaduwa by last train at night and go back by first train after the burglary. At present, beach boys are also aware of robberies or any other crimes, so as to protect their good name and reputation of Hikkaduwa as a safe tourist destination’

Moreover, it was revealed that no rape cases or cases related to sexual abuse were reported recently in Hikkaduwa. ‘I have observed that it’s people from outside and people who drive along the Galle road would stare at girls in bikinis or other exposing attires (shorts, skinnies). Beach boys and people in the tourist area have got used to those sights. In that case, I think Hikkaduwa is safer than some other outer regions’. Mr.

Wijesena also asserted that ‘if he (beach boy) is 18 years, then he has a right to choose a job he likes and engages in it. It’s not an illegal work, but it may consist some illegal acts like drugs. That’s why their work should be formulated. Until and unless they don’t violate any rules or cause social issues, its ok to continue their work’. Therefore, it can be said that there cannot be seen strict regulations on beach boys, and the beach boys in Hikkaduwa have not been a menace/threat to the local community, or to the tourism

Complaints 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Lost Property

16 34 32 26 47 33

Assaults 5 5 3 1 3 3

Disputes 4 1 5 3 2 4

Harassment/

Disturbance

4 1 2 1 4 3

Threat 1 3 3 1 2 -

Total 30 44 45 32 58 43