Updated UK Travel Warning: No Photographs In Front Of Buddha Statues
By Charles Haviland - A Sri Lankan court has given suspended jail terms to three French tourists for wounding the religious feelings of Buddhists by taking pictures deemed insulting. Two women and one man were detained in the southern town…
By Colombo Telegraph -
“This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments to the Local Laws and Customs section (posing for photographs in front of statues of Buddha)” says British government updated travel advisory warning . British Government has updated it travel advisory warning yesterday, but with no changes to its warnings on organise crimes, rape and sex crimes, an upsurge of nationalism and anti-western rhetoric.
“You should avoid posing for photographs standing in front of a statue of Buddha. The mistreatment of Buddhist images and artefacts is a serious offence and tourists have been convicted for posing for such photos.” it says.
Last week Sri Lankan government said it will challenge the British Government travel advisory warning Britons over an upsurge of nationalism, sexual offences and anti-western rhetoric.
External Affairs Ministry Secretary Karunatillake Amunugama told the Sunday Times that they were treating the matter with utmost seriousness owing to the tone and timing of the advisory.
“We are studying the statement put out by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office that warns of an upsurge in nationalism and anti-Western rhetoric and cautioned citizens visiting, working or residing in the country to be extra vigilant at all times. The note also advised Britons to stay clear of local demonstrations, while females moving in single or in small groups were told to be armed with self-alarm devices as there was a steep increase in rape and sexual molestation cases. We intend to seek changes to this advisory and the matter will be taken up with the British High Commission,” Amunugama said.
He said Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner Chris Nonis had also been instructed to discuss the issue with British authorities.
“This advisory is ill timed, inappropriate and uncalled for. We believe thatLondon has been ill advised on the real ground situation in the country and therefore we will be seeking several clarifications if not a total withdrawal of the note,” another senior EAM official said.
“This advisory is ill timed, inappropriate and uncalled for. We believe thatLondon has been ill advised on the real ground situation in the country and therefore we will be seeking several clarifications if not a total withdrawal of the note,” another senior EAM official said.
He said that calling on females to arm themselves with self-alarms only suggested thatSri Lankawas a country of rapists and sadists and such statements would only encourage other countries to put out similar travel advisories.
To read the full updated British Government travel advisory warning notice click here
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