A foreign woman’s horrifying experience on a Kandy roadway has raised urgent questions about tourist safety, drug-linked offenders, and the growing pattern of sexual harassment targeting international visitors in Sri Lanka.
Police confirmed that shortly after the arrest of a 23-year-old man for exposing himself and attempting to sexually harass a female New Zealand tourist in Thirukkovil, another disturbing incident involving a foreign woman emerged from Kandy. The Kandy Tourist Police apprehended a 32-year-old three-wheeler driver accused of sexually harassing the woman while driving alongside her in the Paragahadeniya area under Mawathagama Police jurisdiction. Investigators using CCTV footage discovered that the suspect had travelled to Katugastota and remained in hiding since the afternoon of November 16. A search of his residence in Mawathagama revealed troubling details, including indications that the suspect and certain family members were drug addicts with previous legal cases for drug use, highlighting a serious drug-crime nexus.
The suspect surrendered to the Kandy Tourist Police on November 17. Both he and the three-wheeler used in the incident were handed over to Mawathagama Police for further legal action. The arrest comes as Sri Lanka faces growing scrutiny over its handling of crimes against foreign tourists, with repeated harassment cases raising concerns about public safety, policing efficiency, and the image of the country as a safe travel destination.
The successful operation was carried out under the direction of Assistant Superintendent of Police Prabath Vidanagama, Director of the Tourist Police Division. Chief Inspector Lalith Mahagedara of the Kandy Tourist Police, Sub-Inspector Dissanayake, Sergeant Indrajith, Police Officer Udayakumara, and several other officers from the Tourist Division contributed to the investigation. Authorities emphasize that intensified monitoring will continue, especially in key tourist zones, to ensure stricter action against offenders and restore confidence among international visitors.
