LNP – Half-naked Thai tourist transitioned from male to female four years ago

The Thai woman who made headlines for walking topless near a hotel in Arugam Bay, had undergone a sex reassignment surgery four years ago, transitioning from male to female.

According to police, the tourist is biologically male, though ‘she’ had undergone a full surgical transition.

The incident came to public attention when images of the topless tourist surfaced on social media prompting police to arrest her on July 14 for indecent behaviour and causing a public disturbance.

She was then handed a suspended five-year prison sentence after being produced before the Pottuvil Magistrate’s Court where she pleaded guilty.

The court imposed a sentence of two weeks’ imprisonment for indecent behaviour and one month for causing public disturbance, both suspended for five years.

While the court accepted her self-identified gender as female during proceedings, the situation has taken a dramatic turn after a photo of the Thai national’s passport, also shared online, shows the sex listed as ‘M’ (male) and includes the title ‘Mr.’

This has raised questions about how gender is interpreted legally in Sri Lanka, especially in cases involving public decency laws.

The discrepancy between her physical identity and official documentation has ignited debate about the rights and recognition of transgender individuals in legal systems that may not fully accommodate gender diversity.

It was revealed that she had arrived in Sri Lanka accompanying a US national and had booked accommodation at a tourist hotel in Arugam Bay from the 11 to 20.