A 25-year-old man, a father of one, has been arrested in connection with an attempted sexual assault on a foreign national woman in the Thirukkovil area, after a video of the incident went viral on social media.
The suspect was taken into custody today (16) during a special search operation conducted in the Marandamadu area of Kalmunai by the Thirukkovil Police OIC and a team of officers.
Police said the suspect had been living with his wife in several rented houses in Thirukkovil. Following the circulation of the video, a social media post claiming that the suspect was a chickpea vendor in the area drew police attention, prompting officers to expand their investigations.
During visits to several locations where the suspect had previously resided, officers found photocopies of the national identity cards belonging to the suspect and his wife. Further inquiries revealed he had fled his residence three days earlier.
After an extensive search, police located and arrested the suspect this afternoon in Marandamadu. At the time of arrest, he had shaved his head and changed his appearance to avoid detection. He was subsequently handed over to the Pottuvil Police for further investigations.
The incident has drawn concern as Sri Lanka continues to position itself as a premier tourist destination known for its natural beauty and warm hospitality. Authorities warn that isolated acts of misconduct by individuals can cause distress to foreign visitors.
The investigation began after a video emerged showing a man indecently exposing himself to a foreign woman traveling in a three-wheeler. The 24-year-old New Zealand tourist lodged an official complaint via email with the Sri Lanka Tourist Police Division yesterday (15).
According to police, the woman, who arrived in Sri Lanka in September, was traveling from Arugam Bay to Pasikuda on October 25 when she encountered the suspect in the Thirukkovil area, where the incident took place.
