The video went viral and he was arrested.
A solo woman traveler from New Zealand posted a video last week of a man exposing himself to her. Molly, a 24-year-old from Christchurch, is traveling alone across Southeast Asia. The incident happened in Sri Lanka while she was driving a tuk-tuk, and she said it left her on edge. However, she emphasized that the actions of one man do not reflect the country and that she was met with kindness.
In the caption, Molly wrote that she debated sharing the incident. The video shows her driving a tuk-tuk across the country as a man asks her for sex and, after she repeatedly refuses, exposes himself. She then drives off.
In the video, she narrates that it was the fourth day of her road trip and it began peacefully. But it quickly took a turn when a man followed her on a scooter. Despite her efforts to let him pass, he kept trailing her and approached her when she stopped. She initially tried to chat to be polite despite the language barrier, but when he asked where she was staying, she realized the situation wasn’t positive. He then asked for sex and, after she denied him, masturbated. “I wish I had reacted more firmly, but I was just in shock. I could not believe he asked me that question,” she says as she drives away.
“I can’t believe that happened. Sri Lanka is such a beautiful place with really kind people and then something like this happens and now I’m just going to be on edge for the rest of my trip,” she said in the video. She also said she wouldn’t let the incident ruin her trip.
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The caption also said, “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.”
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Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, some commenters blamed her for traveling through the country. Others questioned her actions and clothing. However, many supported her, and Sri Lankans apologized for the experience.
She also posted a second video after the first one blew up. She didn’t expect the response it received, including negative comments blaming her and her lack of “survival skills.” “Women should be able to travel solo,” she said in the post. Women are not the problem, she noted, and one incident doesn’t represent what it’s like to travel solo as a woman.
She also acknowledged that women experience harassment everywhere. She said she has been sexually harassed in her own country because it’s a reality for women. “It hasn’t changed how I approach solo travel. I’m very well prepared for these things, and I think women in general are taught how to deal with things like this from a young age,” she said to NZ Herald.
She also gave updates about what happened after. She contacted the police and there was a search to find him. He was arrested within four days of her posting the video, and the police have been in touch with her about updates.
She reiterated that she had a positive experience in Sri Lanka and will continue to recommend it to others. The caption said, “One incident does not define a country, and it doesn’t define solo female travel. Sri Lanka is an incredible place, and I felt safe for my entire month on the road. Please don’t let one man’s behaviour shape your view of a whole culture.”
Related: Is It Safe to Travel to Sri Lanka Right Now?
The U.S. Department of State has a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution advisory for Sri Lanka. The department notes that sexual harassment is widespread: “Women, both locals and foreigners, often report catcalling and physical harassment in crowded areas and on public transportation.”
