British woman deported from Sri Lanka because of her Buddha tattoo

 

True story of British woman devoted to Buddhism deported from Sri Lanka .... 
as 'public unrest could occur' because of tattoo

A fair-skinned woman from an overseas country happened to set foot in Sri Lanka recently and on one of her arms was tattooed the figure of Lord Buddha seated on a lotus flower. When she embarked at Katunayaka Airport and was about to enter the country, she was taken into police custody to prevent any possible 'public commotion' and was then produced at Negombo courts after which it was decided to deport her from Sri Lanka.

Naomi Colaman, a 37 year old female British national was the person who was issued the order to leave the country. Two police constables who gave evidence against her in courts said that because of the tattoo of the Buddha on her arm, it may provoke the Buddhist community in the country and that since it was an insult to Buddhism and would therefore result in the masses being provoked ending up in the form of a public commotion, it was conducive that she be expelled from Sri Lanka.

As such, Negombo Additional Magistrate ordered that she be deported from Sri Lanka by expressing the fact that her retention in the country would be a risk leading to public unrest.

However, what this foreigner had told BBC News Service was a different story. She had remarked that she is a devotee of Buddhism and that she has come to Sri Lanka after travelling in India to visit places of religious interest and further that she had this picture tattooed on the arm for the purpose of expressing her faith. She had said that she entertained no motive of defaming the Buddha dhamma.

"I came from Mumbai, India. I have come to Sri Lanka on two other occasions. Even then I carried this tattoo on my arm. I also attend meditation activities in countries such as India, Nepal, Thailand.

There was no issue from officers at the airport. Two taxi drivers and a police officer dressed in civil clothes came upto me and said that this is a violation of the law. Later I was taken to the police. When I was kept in the detention room, the police officers and detention officers came to me on several occasions and examined my luggage and demanded money from me. I didn't give. I was not allowed to express myself.

Now I have been deported. This figure with the Buddha seated on a lotus flower was something which I did with desire. I feel sorry that I who maintained such a confidence about the Buddha dhamma have been treated in this manner.

She who has received court orders that she be sent back to Britain from Sri Lanka by now has been handed over to the Mirihana Detention camp through Commissioner of Immigration and Emigration.

News about this incident has already been published in the British Daily Mail inclusive of leading newspapers and web sites.