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24/04/2014
British Tourist Deported Over Buddha Tattoo
A British woman has been deported from Sri Lanka after being arrested because of a tattoo of Buddha on her upper arm.
Naomi Coleman was arrested on Monday when she arrived at the airport in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo, for "hurting others' religious feelings".
It is understood that a court refused to let her continue her journey to the Maldives, and a deportation order was issued. The 37-year-old mental health nurse, is due back in London this evening.
However, following her deportation Ms Coleman was subsequently offered a free holiday in the country by Sri Lanka's Tourism Development Authority, "as an aploogy".
It is understood that Sri Lankan authorities take strict action against perceived insults to Buddhism, which is the religion of the island's majority ethnic Sinhalese.
(MH)
Naomi Coleman was arrested on Monday when she arrived at the airport in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo, for "hurting others' religious feelings".
It is understood that a court refused to let her continue her journey to the Maldives, and a deportation order was issued. The 37-year-old mental health nurse, is due back in London this evening.
However, following her deportation Ms Coleman was subsequently offered a free holiday in the country by Sri Lanka's Tourism Development Authority, "as an aploogy".
It is understood that Sri Lankan authorities take strict action against perceived insults to Buddhism, which is the religion of the island's majority ethnic Sinhalese.
(MH)
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