A recent incident at Sri Lanka’s international airport has earned high praise for Minister Vijitha Herath and the government from an Armenian tourist. Grigoryan Marin, who arrived in Sri Lanka on October 20 on flight GP502, reported her luggage missing shortly after arrival. Acting swiftly, airport police led by Inspector Wasantha Kumara reviewed security footage, revealing that the bag had been mistakenly taken by another passenger—a Tamil woman from Badulla on the same flight.
The authorities tracked down and apprehended the woman, who faced judicial proceedings. Following a Negombo Court ruling, she was ordered to pay Rs 600,000 in compensation to the Armenian visitor. The Airport Tourism Police promptly ensured the amount was paid, making it possible to return the luggage to Marin before her departure.
In a heartfelt video released just before she left Sri Lanka, Marin expressed her gratitude to the airport police and staff for their swift and professional handling of the situation. She extended special thanks to Minister Vijitha Herath and his private secretary, acknowledging their prompt response and coordination in taking legal action. The Armenian tourist’s message has added an unexpected highlight to Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, showcasing an effective response to visitor issues.
