British tourist held by Sri Lankan police for wearing a Buddha tattoo in her arm

A British tourist in Sri Lanka carrying a Buddha tattoo in her arm was held in detention by the police as the tattoo could cause religious offence. Naomi Michelle Coleman, 37, was arrested by

the Sri Lankan police was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport in the capital, Colombo on her arrival from India. The fear that she might hurt religious beliefs with the tattoo on her right hand that showed The Buddha sitting on a lotus

Buddhism is the religion of the country’s majority ethnic Sinhalese and Buddhist tattoos are seen as culturally insensitive. Coleman’s deportation was ordered by the magistrate. She is currently being held at an immigration detention centre until deportation and said she would be removed “very soon – it could be tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.

Antony Ratcliffe was made to go through the same ordeal last year in March for the same offence.

In 2011, Thailand’s Culture Ministry said foreign tourists in Sri Lanka should be barred from getting tattoos of Buddha during their holidays because the practice was culturally insensitive.

The R&B star Akon was refused a Sri Lankan visa in 2010 and had to apologise to Sri Lankan Buddhists after his video for Sexy Chick, which featured a pool party in front of a Buddha statue, caused offence and protests in the nation.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed they were dealing with the case of a detained British national and are providing consular assistance.