The Sri Lankan authorities have ordered the deportation of a British tourist because of a Buddha tattoo on her arm.
Named as Naomi Michelle Coleman, she arrived on a flight from India on Monday and was arrested at the airport after the tattoo of the Buddha and a lotus flower on her right arm was seen.
She is being held at an immigration detention camp until her deportation.
The authorities are tough on perceived insults to Buddhism, the religion of the island’s majority ethnic Sinhalese.
Sri Lanka is particularly sensitive about images of Buddha. The authorities regularly take strict action with regard to the treatment of the image.
Contacted by the BBC, the British High Commission in Colombo said: “We are aware of the case and are providing appropriate consular assistance.”
Last March another British tourist was denied entry at Colombo’s international airport because immigration officials said he had spoken “disrespectfully” when asked about a tattoo of the Buddha on his arm, BBC informs.
