The Tourism Ministry yesterday protested against the BBC news broadcast introducing Galle as a tourist city port when reporting on the abortive attempt by the LTTE to attack the Naval Base ‘Dhakshina’ adjoining the Galle harbour.

Tourism Ministry Secretary Dr. Prathap Ramnujan said "I made a strong protest with BBC correspondent in Sri Lanka Dumithra Luthra against the way she had reported it."

It was all unnecessary to call it a tourism city unless they want to ask tourists not to visit here. This sort of reporting is damaging to the country and only supports the cause of a terrorist organisation like the LTTE he said. She should have been more careful in her terminology," he added.