Man Arrested in Sri Lanka After Exposing Himself to Solo Female Travel Influencer

20 November 2025

New Zealand influencer Molly, known online as “molsgonewild,” has shared a disturbing encounter from her solo trip in Sri Lanka, where a local man approached her during a tuk-tuk tour, asked for sex and then exposed himself before she managed to escape and later report the incident to police.

The episode unfolded in the eastern region of Sri Lanka, where Molly was touring alone in a three-wheeled tuk-tuk. The man, initially appearing friendly, sped to overtake her and tailgated her repeatedly. When she stopped, he approached and began a conversation, asking questions about her stay. She later realised the exchange was not benign. “He asked for sex,” she recounted, “and exposed himself to me.”

Molly captured the interaction on video, posting it to her social-media channels with a message warning female travellers of the hidden dangers of solo travel. She wrote: “I debated sharing this but this is the reality of solo travel as a woman.” In the clip she appears startled, gripping the tuk-tuk’s controls, asking herself “what the f-k just happened?” as the man exposes himself and pleads.

Following her report, Sri Lankan Tourism Police responded swiftly: within two days a man was being sought and within five days the suspect was arrested and is now facing charges. The efficiency of the arrest has been cited as a positive sign of enforcement in tourist-safety cases in Sri Lanka.

In her follow-up comments Molly stressed that while the incident was alarming it is not indicative of all travel experiences. She noted that she has travelled extensively even in countries judged “safe” and still faces harassment. “It’s not a fear that is limited to just travelling,” she said. She also described the precautions she takes routinely: keeping a pocket knife on her and remaining aware of interactions with others.

Her post triggered a wave of reactions. Some supporters expressed outrage and sympathy; others criticised her decision to travel alone or blamed her for the situation. Molly addressed the backlash head-on, asserting women should be able to travel solo without being the target. “Women should be able to solo travel; we are not the problem,” she said.

The case raises broader questions about solo female travel and safety. While tourism authorities often promote independence and empowerment, the incident reinforces the risks women can face even when abroad in unfamiliar countries. Travel-safety expert Jessica Mitchell noted that such events underline the importance of local knowledge, rapid reporting mechanisms and visible enforcement.

Sri Lanka has made efforts in recent years to boost tourism and safety, particularly for independent travellers. The quick police action has been highlighted by local media as a potentially significant example of responsiveness. The arrested man is now in custody, and legal high-lights will follow as the case progresses.

For Molly, the incident has shifted her narrative. She said that even if her encounter stops only one woman from facing a similar situation, the effort is worthwhile. Her decision to share the footage and also her emotional response served not just as documentation but as a public lesson about vigilance, consent and respect while travelling.

The incident has wider implications. It prompts travel-platform stakeholders to reexamine how they support female travellers, from safety advisories to local engagement and emergency response. It also fuels conversations about digital documentation when filming and sharing may help enforce accountability. Meanwhile tourism boards in South-Asia and beyond may face pressure to demonstrate protections for travellers are substantive not just promotional.

As for Molly’s trip, she has moved on physically but carries the experience emotionally. She described herself as “shaken” in the aftermath and admitted she did not immediately process what had happened. “Even when you think you’re prepared for anything, you still get moments like that,” she said.

In the end, the incident is more than a standalone harassment story it is a cautionary tale that intersects modern travel, influencer culture and the ongoing struggle for women’s safe mobility around the world. It reminds us that empowerment on the road comes with real-world risks, and that acknowledgement, documentation and institutional protection remain critical.