- By Supratik Das
- Tue, 18 Nov 2025 09:48 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
A Sri Lankan man has been arrested after a New Zealand woman travelling solo across the island nation recorded him harassing her, asking for sex, and masturbating in front of her. The disturbing incident, captured on her phone, went viral on Instagram and triggered widespread condemnation, with many demanding stronger safeguards for women travellers.
Incident Occurred During Tuk-Tuk Road Trip
The woman, who has been documenting her journey across Sri Lanka in a tuk-tuk (auto-rickshaw), said her day began with a “sunrise swim” before taking a troubling turn. According to her, a man on a scooter began following her early in the day. “There was a man driving a scooter in front of me, and he would continuously slow down, and I would have to pass him, and then he would speed up and pass me again,” she said. At first, she acknowledged him politely, but soon she sensed something was wrong.
She said she thought she had lost him when he turned off the road, but he reappeared again when she pulled over to take a short break. “He got off his scooter and came to talk to me… but then it quickly turned uncomfortable. He asked where I was staying, and I knew where it was going.”
Man Asks for Sex, Then Exposes Himself
The video posted by her shows the man asking her for sex. Moments later, he exposes himself and begins masturbating. Startled and frightened, she immediately drove away.“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,” she said, adding that the encounter left her “on edge” for the remainder of her trip. Police later confirmed that the 23-year-old accused had been arrested on Monday.
Despite her shock, the woman stressed that this should not reflect poorly on the country or its people. In her Instagram caption, she wrote, “I want to be clear, this does not define Sri Lanka. The local people I met were some of the kindest and most generous I’ve ever encountered. This was one man, one moment, not a reflection of an entire country.”
She added that solo travel, especially as a woman, comes with risks. “Solo travelling is incredible, but it’s not always sunshine and smiles. Some days test your strength and remind you to stay alert.”
Social Media Divided After Viral Video
Reactions online were mixed. Some users warned women against travelling alone in developing nations, writing, “Women should never travel to third world countries alone… There are always opportunistic sickos.” Others defended Sri Lanka, calling it a safe and welcoming destination.
“Sri Lanka is a beautiful country filled with kind people… Judging an entire nation based on a single incident is extremely foolish. Individuals with distorted minds exist everywhere,” another user wrote.