Viral video of tourist pushing Sri Lankan guide into the sea draws criticism

A video appearing to show an Israeli tourist pushing a Sri Lankan tour guide from a boat into the sea has gone viral on social media and drawn widespread criticism.

In the footage, widely shared online, a member of a group of Israeli tourists travelling on a boat is seen pushing the male guide, who was drinking water at the time, into the water. Many social media users have questioned the tourists' conduct towards published reporting guide.

Israeli journalist and social activist Daniel Amram, who reported the incident, later shared the response of the tourists involved. According to them, it was an act done in jest in which the guide also took part; there was no intention to humiliate him and he was not harmed, they said.

Nevertheless, the tourists said the wave of criticism they faced after the video spread had been severe, and the incident has renewed debate over the treatment of local workers in the tourism industry.