LNP - Clarification on viral video of assault on tourist in Weligama

Police issued a clarification regarding a viral video circulating on social media, which shows a Sri Lankan man assaulting a foreign national.  Authorities confirmed that the incident had occurred in February 2024 in the Weligama area and is not a recent event as some posts suggest. The victim, a Filipino tourist, filed a complaint on February 14, 2024, reporting that he was attacked by an employee of a surf training centre on the Pelena Beach following a disagreement over filming.  The suspect, a 24-year-old local man, was arrested the same day and produced before the Matara Magistrate’s Court.  The case is scheduled to be taken up on September 11, 2025.