Three-Wheeler Driver Fined Rs. 300,000 for Indecent Exposure to Foreign Tourists

Several news reports recently emerged about young men exposing themselves to foreign female tourists. Among these was an incident where a young man sexually harassed two Dutch female tourists by exposing his private parts.

In connection with this, a three-wheeler driver who pleaded guilty has been sentenced by the Pilessa Magistrate's Court. When the case was taken up for hearing, the defendant admitted to the charges,

Pilessa Magistrate W.S.L. Dassanayake ordered him to serve a six-month rigorous imprisonment and pay a compensation of three hundred thousand rupees (Rs. 300,000) to the aggrieved women. The Magistrate also decided to suspend this six-month prison sentence for a period of ten years. 

The two foreign women involved in the incident had used the defendant's three-wheeler to travel from Kurunegala to Kandy. During the journey, when they inquired about the route, the driver behaved indecently. It was revealed that he exposed himself and harassed the women, who then video-recorded the act and released it on social media. Subsequently, they lodged a complaint with the Children and Women's Bureau of the Mawatagama Police.

While the police were investigating to arrest the suspect, he surrendered to the police. The individual brought before the court was 33-year-old Muthutantrilage Chanuka Nuwan Jayasinghe, a resident of Barandana Road, Mawatagama. For the charges filed against the defendant, he was also ordered to pay a government fine of Rs. 3000 (Rs. 1500 for each charge), and in addition to the suspended prison sentence, the defendant is obliged to pay the Rs. 300,000 compensation.