A 25-year-old Sri Lankan man has been arrested after he exposed himself to a woman, a tourist from New Zealand named Molly, who was traveling solo across the South Asian island nation. The tourist documented the alarming encounter on camera and later shared the video, which quickly went viral and prompted action from authorities.
“During my solo tuk-tuk road trip across Sri Lanka, a man asked for sex and exposed himself to me,” Molly wrote while sharing the video on her Instagram account (@molsgonewild).
The Disturbing Incident in East Sri Lanka
The incident occurred on October 25 while Molly was driving a tuk-tuk alone through the Thambiluvil area of east Sri Lanka.
- Initial Contact: Molly first noticed a man following her on a scooter. When he sped up and passed her, they exchanged a wave.
- Repeated Harassment: The man then repeatedly overtook Molly and then slowed down, forcing the Kiwi tourist to pass him several times.
- Escalation: When Molly stopped for a rest, the man approached her. Although there was an initial “language barrier,” Molly thought he seemed friendly. However, the conversation quickly turned uncomfortable: “He asked where I was staying, and I knew where it was going.”
The Sexual Harassment
Despite Molly denying his request for sex in broken English, the situation escalated rapidly.
“I was like, ‘okay, no, absolutely not’, and I just got ready to drive away,” she said in her video. It was at this point that the man exposed himself and began masturbating.
Molly expressed her shock, noting, “It was one of those moments that shakes you a bit, even when you think you’re prepared for anything.” She immediately started her tuk-tuk and drove away.
She later expressed regret at her reaction: “I wish I had reacted more firmly, but I was just in shock. I could not believe he asked me that question, and after I said no, he still had the audacity to expose himself to me like that.”
Police Action and Arrest
Molly shared the video on Instagram five days prior to the news, and its widespread viewership—collecting millions of views—encouraged her to report the incident to the police.
Working in collaboration, the Tourism Division along with the Thirukkovil and Pottuvil police managed to trace the accused. The 25-year-old man was arrested on Saturday.
A police statement confirmed the challenges faced in apprehending the suspect: “At the time of his arrest, the suspect had reportedly altered his appearance and changed his residence in an attempt to evade capture.”