A disrespect to Buddhism

Two men have been arrested and have bonds of Rs. 1 million each issued, after being charged with selling a product that disrespected a religion.

The offensive item can be seen below.



Photograph: The Sunday Times

They were charged breaking section 292 of the penal code, as the ladies T-shirts they were selling were deemed a “disrespect to a religion”. The shirts carried a design which depicts the
the Sacred Temple of the Tooth in Kandy and were sold for Rs. 850 each.

The defendants have since been to the temple, to apologise to both the chief custodian (Diyawadana Nilame) and to the Mahanayake of Asgiriya, whilst promising to remove all the T-shirts from their store.

A court date has been scheduled for February the 2nd for the police to present findings of an ongoing investigation.

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