Three French tourists have been handed down suspended jail terms for taking allegedly insulting photographs with a Buddha statue.
Police were alerted after a photographic laboratory in Galle discovered photos of the tourists offensively posing with the statues, including imitating the pose of the Buddha and pretending to kiss one of them.
A magistrate sentenced two women and a man to six months in prison with hard labour, suspended for five years, and also levied a fine. The conviction came under a section which outlaws the intention to wound or insult “the religious feelings of any class or persons” in, upon or near sacred objects or places of worship.
However, exposing oneself in front of mosques and stealing statues from Hindu temples are apparently not deemed as offences under this section.
It seems also that prosecution for 'assaulting' inanimate objects is a more pressing issue than prosecutions for rape in Sri Lanka.
In 2010, R&B singer Akon was refused a visa to enter Sri Lanka and sparked violent protests in Colombo after a music video of his was also deemed offensive to Buddhism.
A government document has revealed that the China Development Bank is to increase its lending to Sri Lanka development projects, now totalling to more than US$1.
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Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigation Department has questioned the Tamil National Alliance MP for Vanni, Sivasakthi Anandan, over Saturday’s memorial event in Vavuniya.
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The Northern Provincial Council (NPC) elections would be held in September, confirmed the Cabinet spokesperson and Minister for Petroleum Industries Anura Priyadharshana Yapa.
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Protesters held a demonstration in Vavuniya on Monday condemning incidents of rape and calling for the arrest of the rapist of a 7-year-old girl in Nedunkeni.
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In its annual International Religious Freedom report, the US State Department expressed concern about attacks and discrimination by Buddhists against Hindus, Muslims and Christians.
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Tamils across the state of California held a candle lit vigil to commemorate the 4th year anniversary of the Mullvaikkal massacre.
Speakers at the events,
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Sri Lanka's Media Minister, Champika Ranawaka will file a motion in parliament against the 13th Amendment and the provincial council system, reports the Colombo Gazette.
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