COLOMBO, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) on Thursday said it had launched 22 new police units in tourist areas across the island to ensure the safety of tourists and locals.

In a statement, the SLTDA said that presently there were 11 tourist police units in the country and another 22 new Tourist Police Units had been established.

Due to the lack of lands, the police units have been set up using containers in a small area of land.

Locals and foreigners who face any difficulties are able to seek the assistance of the police who are deployed in these special police units.

Sri Lanka's tourism sector has faced criticism in recent months due to a rising number of sexual harassment allegations and fraud.

Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs Minister, John Amaratunga said recently that the government would take immediate measures to provide a safe environment for tourists to the island nation.

Amaratunga said the tourism industry was concerned about the increasing number of complaints of exploitation and harassment of foreign tourists and pledged to take stern action against those involved.

The minister added that with tourist arrivals hitting record figures in recent years, the number of complaints was also increasing.

"We are very much aware of the situation and plan to take stern measures so that the good name of the industry and the country is not spoiled by a few miscreants," he had said.

Sri Lanka's tourism industry, which was once heavily scarred by a 30-year civil conflict, has emerged as the leading foreign exchange earner with an increasing number of tourists.