Naomi Michelle Coleman, the British woman who was arrested and detained for three days in Sri Lanak for sporting a tattoo of the Buddha on her arm in 2014, told Colombo Telegraph that the compensation paid following a court ruling was not adequate but said that she had ‘got to the point of having no trust in the system’ anyway.
Naomi Coleman
‘I had started to believe that I would get nothing at all,’ Coleman said in a response to a question posed by Colombo Telegraph with regard to compensation.
The Supreme Court upheld her case on Wednesday, declaring that her arrest was illegal and charges of offence baseless. Accordingly the state was ordered to pay her 700,000 rupees (£3,500). The three-judge bench said Coleman, who was not present at the court, was subjected to ‘horrifying and scandalous treatment’. The two police officers found to have acted inappropriately in arresting her were also instructed to pay Coleman 100,000 (£500).
Coleman, who was represented by J.C. Weliamuna and his team of lawyers, told Colombo Telegraph that she didn’t have to pay incur any legal fees, but she had to spend around 150 Sterling Pounds to send statements and affidavits through FedEx.
“The holiday me and my friend booked would have come to £2000 for the two of us..so really it has just recompensated my holiday with a little extra,” she said.
“I am just happy of the support of the rational thinking people and I knew in my heart that I had done nothing wrong. I never disrespected the Buddha in any way as I know the rules around Buddhism. I thank the lawyers for putting my case forward and their hard work and am just glad the whole saga has been resolved and the people in the wrong had to also issue a payment,” she explained.
Coleman also said that she doesn’t know what happened to the taxi driver who started the entire saga and had bragged in social media about getting her arrested.
“I am sure Karma will be served and I am glad the wrongdoing of the others has been acknowledged finally,” she said while thanking her lawyers for taking up her case and for their hard work.
“I am just glad the whole saga has been resolved and the people in the wrong had to also issue a payment,” she concluded.
Anpu / November 16, 2017
Majority of Sinhalese do not practise Buddhism. But they claim they are Buddhists.
Thanks to the lawyers who represented Naomi.
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Amarasiri / November 16, 2017
Dear Niomi MICHELLE Coleman,
We are happy that this travesty of justice have been resolved, with its shortcommings, thanks to many Paras with common sense.
Now you know why Para-Sinhala “Buddhism’ is not Buddhism.
Furthermore, Mahawamsa is an Insult to The Buddha.
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Champa / November 17, 2017
Amarasiri
How could Mahawamsa is an insult to Lord Buddha? You don’t know what is Mahawamsa and you don’t know who is Lord Buddha.
Mahawamsa is the epic story of our ancient Kings based on primeval oldest tradition. Without Mahawamsa Sinhalese or the world wouldn’t have known our beginnings as a nation or the Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Stop talking about things you don’t know or making it a habit to insult other religions.
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Amarasiri / November 18, 2017
Champa,
Indeed Mahawamsa is an insult to the Buddha, says Shamini Serasinghe and many others.
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/mahavamsa-an-insult-to-the-buddha/
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Champa / November 18, 2017
Amarasiri
Who cares about personal opinions of one or two presumably non-Buddhists when the majority Sinhalese treasure Mahawamsa as the Greatest Chronicle of our nation?
Next time write your own views and opinions with logic without borrowing other people’s opinions.
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Jamis Banda / November 18, 2017
Champa,
Do you find the reading the Mahavamsa, the so called ‘Greatest Chronicle’ of your nation enhances your self-esteem as a Sinhalese? Most Sinhalese feel greatly embarrassed and deeply humiliated when they read/learn that the Sinhalese are the descendants of Vijaya, the banished profligate son of an incestuous marriage between (Sihabahu) and sister (Sihasivali) whose mother was so exceedingly lustful that only a real lion could satisfy her sexually. Moreover, Sihabahu killed his leonine father, the king of the brutes […] Thus, according to the Mahavamsa, brutishness, bestiality, incest, patricide and profligacy, were the stuff of Sinhala genesis […] of the 54 rulers recounted in the Mahavamsa, 22 were murdered by their successors; 11 were overthrown; 13 killed were killed in battle and 6 were assassinated. Fools of your ilk must be really proud of that Great chronicle…
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Champa / November 19, 2017
Jamis Banda
I pity your understanding about Mahawamsa. Your narrative is based on your intelligence how you understand a written script. Your inability to grasp the meaning of stories is based on how a non-Sinhalese look at it. How could an animal and a human intercourse give birth to humans? Or even a birth? Haven’t you ever known how to think logically? If so, their “children” should have had human bodies with tails or lion heads with human bodies. What Mahawamsa says as a lion is not an animal it is a symbol. Now like Amarsiri, don’t tell that it is what others believe. I have never met a single Sinhalese who believed that he is hailing from a lion as an animal. That doesn’t make Mahawamsa wrong, it is the meaning what lies behind what Mahawamsa recorded as oral tradition. Every oral story has a meaning which happened before the Mahawamsa was written, i.e. in 5th Century.
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Jamis Banda / November 20, 2017
Champa
Could you please tell us how you Sinhala modayass understood the Mahavamsa’s story about brutishness, bestiality, incest, patricide, profligacy and all those killings whether it is oral or whatever?
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Amarasiri / November 18, 2017
Champa,
If other peoples opinions are based on observations and facts, then Amarasiri respects that, and will cite it. Unfortunately, those whose beliefs are based on lies and imaginations, will not accept the facts and truth. Read about the Church and Galileo.
So there is support for Mahawamsa is an Insult to the Buddha and
Sinhala Buddhism is an Insult to Buddhism.
Examples: Sinhala, Tamils , Muslims are others are Paras, Paradeshis, in the Land of Native Veddah Aethho, based on genetic studies
https://www.nature.com/articles/jhg2013112?WT.ec_id=JHG-201401
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zeus / November 19, 2017
It is somewhat intriguing the Sinhala Nation has come to learn of Mahawansa thanks to 2 British Civil servants working here – said to be somewhere in the late 19th century. How can it be a Chronicle if the Writer has gone into writing the Tome after 500 years after the events?
As the old saying goes “if you believe in absurdities, you are likely commit atrocities”
Zeus
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Simon De Silva / November 20, 2017
Baffaloe – man – woman -Eurnach -Champa-
Mahanwansa had been written centuries ago. But to that time, not much was at the hand of the writers.
That to be followed by lanken theros have misled the country not partly but fully.
TOday, if you would count how many among theros would be real budhists, you would see it, eaisly, not even 10%
But this 10% have no whatsoever power to educate the others adequately.
So then the fools remain and multiply in the course of time.
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Champa / November 17, 2017
“The SC declared that Coleman’s arrest was illegal and charges of offence baseless”.
How could the charges be baseless? Cultural appropriation is offensive in any country. Beliefs, social customs, practices and observances of the same religion can be varied from country to country. In Western culture, a tattoo of the Lord Buddha may be accepted, but according to the beliefs of Sinhalese Buddhists, it is extremely offensive. Lord Buddha is someone who gave up his worldly life. Wearing Lord Buddha’s tattoo on one’s body is against Buddhism/his teachings. SC has offended Buddhists in Sri Lanka by giving a wrong message to tourists. If a tourist wears an underwear with Lord Buddha’s image, or a tattoo of Lord Buddha in any other place of the body which as a Buddhist I consider incredibly offensive, can I go to the SC seeking a ruling? On the other hand, by imposing a fine on the two Policemen, SC has intimated the Police Department in taking any action against cultural appropriation. This is bias.
.
Same as the PM and UNP Ministers/MPP, our Judiciary is supporting federal and a secular country which is pretty obvious from two distinctive rulings which should otherwise have been based on the fact how it appertains to the country, not to the world.
.
This is a wake up call for Sinhalese Buddhist parents. They should encourage their children to follow legal studies and join the Judiciary and related occupations so that there will be judges/lawyers who would understand/respect the sentiments of Sinhalese Buddhists who are the majority of the country. Lord Buddha’s teachings are the same all over the world, but practices, customs and beliefs are different from country to country. Our customs and Nepalese/Thai or Chinese Buddhist customary observances, rites and rituals are different.
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Champa / November 17, 2017
Typo:
The penultimate line of the first para – should read as follows:
“SC has intimidated” not intimated
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Tamil from the north / November 17, 2017
Champa you are an idiotic nitwit. This country does not belong to you fool. It belongs to all who live there.
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Champa / November 18, 2017
Tamil fron the North
I am a Sinhalese Buddhist. This is my country which belongs to me. This country doesn’t belong to everyone who lives here. It was Sinhalese who fought throughout the history to protect this country from all invaders, first from Cholas, then from the Portuguese, Dutch and the British then LTTE terrorists. Tamils, Muslims or Indian Tamils were nowhere in those battles.
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Tamil from the north / November 19, 2017
Chimpa: I am a Sinhalese Buddhist.
TFN: Who gives a crap about what you are.
Chimpa while you were prostituting yourself to Gnanasara and Buruwansa, the decent people of this country fought for this land, so go and f&*k yourself you bloody whore.
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Mama Sinhalam / November 19, 2017
Which type of Sinhala Buddhist are you Champa? a Salagama who came to peel cinnamon from Saligramam, a karawe who came to fish from the Malabar Coast, a berewa who came to beat drums from India, a durawe who came to tap toddy from India, the descendant of the lion that buggered which came from India, or the Nayakkars who ruled Kandy? How does the country belong to you? My ancestors came to Jaffna from Tamilnadu, connected by the Adams Bridge and is only ten miles away from the island. .
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Burt / November 19, 2017
Which one is the real Buddha. Each look different.
“http://tattoosme.com/buddha-tattoos/”
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Prasad / November 20, 2017
Champs I am Sinhalese Buddhist as well .But the foremost principle of Buddhism is “ samanathmatha” which is treating everyone equal.In that context I don’t know how you claim no one else can have ownership to this land.People who are legitimate citizens are all belonged to this land and all of them are true owners.Short sighted narrow minded atttudes like you’re will draw the country backwards toward tribal darkness .Sorry champs you have to come out of the well you are in.
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Jamis Banda / November 17, 2017
Champa
She had Buddha’s tattoo on her arm and not on a buttocks you stupid idiot. You go to liquor bars/wine stores in Sri Lanka, they keep Buddha statues. Under every damn boo tree there is a Buddha statue and some drunkards go and urinate on it. Sinhala Modayass even keep Buddha statues in their bed room and then do all sort of things on bed right in front of Buddha statue. Educate the Moda Sinhalayass before teaching a foreign tourist you imbecile.
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Champa / November 17, 2017
Jamis Banda
Although the bootlickers of the White like you who are mutton-heads may not be able to see but this Ruling applies to tattoos of Lord Buddha in any part of the body making them acceptable. Did they say the tattoo in the arm is ok? SC says charges are baseless on the basis that anybody can wear tattoos of Lord Buddha on one’s body and it is not offensive. I am not bothered about comments insulting Buddhists made by slaves like you whose legs still play mandolin at the sight of a White and hail everything they do.
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Jamis Banda / November 18, 2017
Champa
Are you saying that the magistrates of the supreme courts in Sri Lanka who gave this verdict are bootlickers and slaves whose legs still play mandolin at the site of a white? Why don’t you go out and openly say this in Sri Lanka?
Which law in Sri Lanka says you cannot wear a tattoo of Buddha? If there was such a law, why did the airport immigration let her into the country? You seems to be even worse than that uneducated taxi driver and the two stupid policemen. Ignorance is a bliss for asses like you.
This is why I love the Portuguese, they identified immediately that the Sinhalayass are damn fools only good for gobbling kavum. That Indian King Asoka did not know that Sinhalayass are fools, otherwise he would not have introduced Buddhism to Sri Lanka where the majority are fools who will make a mockery out of Buddhism.
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Champa / November 18, 2017
James Banda
I said that openly. They support federal system and a secular country. The offense is cultural appropriation. I am a Buddhist. I have a right to say this tattoo is offensive. The SC should give priority to the right of locals. The law is there to protect our rights in our own country.
Yes, in future there will be new laws to protect Buddhism. King Asoka didn’t bring us Buddhism. Lord Buddha himself visited Sri Lanka three times and travelled throughout the country extensively long before Arhat Mahinda came.
Oh, yeah I am sure you are a descendant of a Portuguese. A Sinhalese never run down his own nation. It was the good heart, gratitude and equanimity of Sinhalese Buddhists which Portuguese, Dutch or the British couldn’t understand. Those qualities were foreign to them. Your comment shows who you are. That’s all.
This is the reason why I want all Sinhalese Buddhists to read CT. 99% people who post comments here are Tamils, Indians, Muslims or other. They all are anti-Sinhalese and anti-Buddhists. Some use Sinhalese names to show that Sinhalese are against Buddhism or Sinhalese also want war crimes investigations or Sinhalese condemn their own race. In practice or reality, it is not. May be one or two, but 99.9% Sinhalese don’t condemn Buddhism or say or do anything against their race.
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Jamis Banda / November 18, 2017
Champa,
Buddha NEVER visited Sri Lanka even in his dream. However, he visited Sri Lanka in the Mahavamsa author’s wild dream which he concocted 1000 years after the death of Buddha. Not a single Buddhist artifact or structure was found in Sri Lanka before Asoka’s son Mahinda introduced Buddhism. Even the Buddhist scriptures do not mention anything about Buddha’s visit or sermon in Sri Lanka. Eve Buddha’s close disciple Ananda is not aware of Buddha’s secret magical visit to Sri Lanka. This kind of imaginary stories are only created for FOOLS like you.
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Champa / November 19, 2017
Jamis Banda
.
You make yourself a fool. You deny Lord Buddha’s visit to Sri Lanka but you agree that Arhat Mahinda visited Sri Lanka. Give us a break man. And what made King Asoka to send his own son and daughter to Sri Lanka, if there was no historically significant connection between Lord Buddha and Sri Lanka?
.
For your information, there is no evidence that Lord Buddha lived in India. Name one Brahmi Script or a Stupa built in Lord Buddha’s time in India? There are no Stupas even Scripts which belonged to Lord Buddha’s time in India, although there are many Stupas and Brahmi Scripts related to Lord Buddha’s visit to Sri Lanka as proof. All written evidences about Lord Buddha which can only be seen after King Asoka’s time in India, same as Mahawamsa, Deepawamsa, Choolawamsa, were based on ancient oral tradition.
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Jamis Banda / November 20, 2017
Champa,
Again and again you are uttering bull crap, no wonder you are a top class Sinhala Modayass. There is NO EVIDENCE what so ever to prove Buddha visited Sri Lanka. The Pali canon Tripitika does not mention anywhere about Lanka. Buddha’s magical visit is only found in the Mahavamsa, it is not oral tradition, it is purely a DREAM of it author. 1000 years after Buddha died, a pot (Ganga) smoking/Kassippu drinking monk Mahanama concocted a fairy tale of Buddha flying from India to Sri Lanka.
Regarding Asoka sending his Buddhist missionary to many countries including Sri Lanka, It is found in his Rock-Edict No. III, King Asoka says that his Dharma Vijaya prevailed in the kingdoms of the Colas, Pandyans and at Tambapanni (Sri Lanka). Particularly the edict number XIII found near Peshawar, there is reference to the Buddhist missions of Asoka to countries referred to as Cola, Pandya, and Tambapanni. Buddhism in Sri Lanka and South India was actually a North Indian conspiracy organized by the North Indian Emperor Asoka and his son Mahinda. It has nothing what so ever to do with Buddha. Buddha has NEVER heard of a country called Sri Lanka. He was only living and preaching in North India. There was no brahmi script during Buddha’s time. All the stupas in Sri Lanka were built after Mahinda came to Sri Lanka via South India. How can you be such an idiot? No wonder you are a Sinhalayass. Why do you idiots run to Buddhagaya/Dambadiva (India) like mad bulls/donkeys if there is no evidence that Buddha lived in India. Tommorrow you will say Buddha is a Sinhalaya born in Sri Lanka. The only place ideal for you is the mental institute in Angoda.
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Somapala Appuchamy / November 19, 2017
Early material about the Buddha and his teachings had been collected in the Pali Canon by about the first century BCE. The Pali Canon is available now. Voluminous material is available about the Buddha’s life and his teachings. The Buddha’s travels and teachings, from the time of his enlightenment when he was thirty-five years old to his death when he was eighty years old, his criss-crossing the Gangetic valley mostly in present day Bihar, eastern Uttara Pradesh and maybe western Bengal, coming across a cross-section of all groups of people, varying his teachings to make them appropriate to different occasions, are matters that could be gleaned from the Pali Canon. There is no evidence that the Buddha had heard about the island of Lanka. In fact, except for probably a later identification of Lanka mentioned in the Ramayana, there is no evidence that the present day Sri Lanka was known as Lanka at the time of the Buddha. Even in ancient Tamil, the island that goes by the name of Sri Lanka now was known as Ilam (=Eelam) and not as Ilankai. The message of Buddhism was universal. There is no indication that it was parochial.
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Jamis Banda / November 20, 2017
Champa
There is no necessity to bring any new laws to protect the fake Sinhala-Buddhism in SL but it is very essential to bring new laws to protect people from this fake Sinhala-Buddhist Barbarism. Buddhism in SL is nothing but Barbarism.
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Amarasiri / November 19, 2017
James Banda,
” The Indian King Asoka…….that the Sinhalese are fools ….where the majority are fools who will make a mockery out of Buddhism”
There is support for the above statement.
The average IQ is 79.
Mahawamsa is an Insult to the Buddha.
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/mahavamsa-an-insult-to-the-buddha/
Sinhala Buddhism is an insult to Buddhism…
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Jamis Banda / November 20, 2017
Amarasiri
When King Asoka sent his son Mahinda to South India and Sri Lanka to spread Buddhism, he did not know that the Sinhalayass had an average IQ of 79. In a few days Champa will say Buddha was a Sinhalaya born in Sri Lanka and there is Oral evidence to prove it. All the fairy tale stories in Mahavamsa has and had Oral evidence. These are the fools who think they are ‘Buddhists’. If Buddha was alive, he would have committed suicide if he see how these Sinhalayass are abusing his philosophy.
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Simon De Silva / November 20, 2017
See this incident and the other one that one of the canadian visiting minister was rejected at the LANKEN airport should be condemned by anyone that respect basics of human rights.
What is wrong with her to have tatooed buddha on her hand if she loves buddha above everything.
Gotabaya should pay millions to this britisch woman for the harm his mediation should have made in her travel rejections.
The message went viral was no means funny in terms of lanken tourism.
Ballige puthas did all harm to lanken development but painted them as in faovur of people.
Even the days that they took the shares back from Emirates, it was painted, that Rajapakshe pragmatism worked there, but we now know since srilanken airlines was run by Rajapakshe goons, it became the most unaffordable white elephant to the country.
All these became from fibre to rope, just because of lack of proper knowledge.
It was all like that a monkey was given a sharpened knife.
I think Rajapakshes should be hung by their balls not waiting any minutes for all the high level crimes to have mastered by the thugs.
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Simon De Silva / November 20, 2017
This is very right.
Most of them inlcuding me are born into buddhism.
They are just followers of Jathaka stories. But not real buddhist teachings.
I have met buddhists in europe than in SL. Meaning real buddhists.
Lankens in general in order to achieve their selfish gains, abuse the religion.
Religion and monk hood has been placed above in the soceity.
That has been abused by politiians or other virulent factions whenever they want to achieve anything.
It is more or less like a book with a beautiful outer cover – but keeping the contents devious and malicious.
Please talk to a cross section of the country to map up an idea about the truth of lanken society. So called buddhist people would do anything and everything not respecting the human rights.
They dont care about respecting the other. Most buddhists are sinahalayas but among them most that have been cheated are the dominant fraction.
They dont have equal thoughts in terms of their fellow country men. Gintota or other issues and behind that are the Rajapakshes.
Rajapakshes should be hung by their balls to feel the nation healed. THat should be the next step since elemination of terror in that country.
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K.Anaga / November 16, 2017
If lord Buddha’s statues could be erected all over the roads gathering dust, and birds droppings what is wrong in Buddha being tattooed in a person. After all Buddhists are not only in Srilanka. Some may carry lord Buddha’s image in their body like the Hindus wearing Gold Chain with the images of Saraswathi, Lukshmi Lord Shiva in pendents
I remember seeing a Buddha’s statue in a Pub close to Croydon, UK. What shall we do?
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Jim Softy / November 16, 2017
It is such a shame that foreigners can insult Buddha and get away with it. This is why we need BBS in politics.
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K.Anaga / November 16, 2017
Lord Buddha cannot be insulted by any one. It will only boomerang.
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Ben Hurling / November 16, 2017
Softy,
Both Buddhism & Buddha are being tarnished by fake “buddhist’ idiots like yourself.
Cheers!
PS: Who gave you sole copy rights ownership of everything that is Buddhist Softy? BTW, Lord Buddha was an Indian. Do you like Indians? Being the small Island-minded racist you are, you should be hating everything that is non Sri Lankan. Buddhism in Sri Lanka was an Indian NGO conspiracy project organized by Indian King Ashoka, his son Mihidu & daughter Sangamitta. With support from a local stooge called King Devanam Piyatissa.
Cheers again!
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Native Vedda / November 16, 2017
Ben Hurling
–
Were the two policemen and the Taxi driver hoping to earn a few sterling pounds from the tourist? Did they try to teach the tourist who the master was in their own country?
–
Why did it take three days to release her. Who was the Officer in Charge? Why didn’t the OIC or his/her superior find this ridiculous charges and the behaviour of the policemen acceptable? Was also in the take?
–
Sinhala/Buddhist Fascists do not seem to like foreigners but they love their dollars, sterlings, Euros, ……………
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Jim Softy / November 16, 2017
Did you know that this British woman was getting paid by the LTTE for her legal expense? This is an LTTE war agaisnt Budhist and cannot be tolerated.
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Tamil from the north / November 16, 2017
Jimba, When did this noble man become God you mutt? You idiot made him God, he never said he was God or he possessed Godly powers. Also everything he stood for, you don’t even practice in real life you f’in loser.
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Mama Sinhalam / November 19, 2017
He is not for the Sinhala Buddhists. He is, as the eleventh Avatar of Vishnu for some Tamil and other Hindus. We would not mind Him being tattooed on the arm by a devotee.
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Tamil from the north / November 16, 2017
Jimba, it is such a shame you are among the human population.
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Eusense / November 17, 2017
jim,
Why do you consider it as an insult? I would be proud if every body get Buddha tattoos on their bodies. Generally people do so for their love or affection. I have even seen Jesus tattoos been worn.
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Tamil from the north / November 20, 2017
Nuisance, you have been Eusence for one day, wow!!!! In your entire life, you have made one decent comment.
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Native Vedda / November 17, 2017
Jimmy the Dimwit
–
Why Panadure Aryadhamma was allowed to institute Bodhi Puja ritual, where Buddhist devotees bathe the root of Bodhi tree with water while reciting some versus?
–
It must be a tribal practice.
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Lenonard / November 17, 2017
You for real Jim? when you say BBS in politics no need enough BBS in Sri Lankan politics from top down. Sri Lanka don’t need another BLOODY BULL SHIT party with some saffron rob clad hypocrites.
Now the beer tax is down open a cheep beer on next public holiday might help you.
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Amarasiri / November 17, 2017
Jim Softy,
It is such a shame that Para-Sinhala “Buddhists” can insult Buddhism and Buddha, and get away with it.
Mahawamsa is an insult to the Buddha.
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Fathima / November 17, 2017
We got 2 Jim softies? One blue and other green. Green seems to be naturally stupid and blue seems to be acting like a stupid
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Tamil from the north / November 19, 2017
Fathima, Jimba has multiple personalities. It is the same bastard with different personalities.
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Kumar Sandirasegaram / November 16, 2017
This is what happens when you give religion a supreme position in our country. We are a multi racial and multi religious society and be treated equally. Under section 9 of the current constitution of Srilanka, Buddhism has a superior and a special status in our land not only its divisive. Some Buddhist believe in Srilanka that any activities displayed outside usual practice is considered objectionable to a religious nut or a fervent believer, is illegal. In accordance with the interpretation of section 9. Let’s change it and make all religion private and equal in the new constitution. Religion should not be associated with the administration of the state. This judgment is an illustration of the stupidity of section 9, and must reject politicians who play on religion to capture votes from the majority. It’s a cheap political card to play and at least now we must all learn.
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Chitra / November 16, 2017
It has worked for some nations, so therefore we should not put it past our leaders to follow the same twisted logic. Take Israel for instance. It declared itself a “Jewish” state, and now anyone that criticizes it for the brutal occupation, the stealing of Palestinian lands to build illegal settlements, or for the precision bombing of Palestinian civilians in their homes, the organized lobbies and Israeli committees, show fake outrage and cry “anti-semitism”, to silence the criticism. The media in some of these western nations, are also too afraid to write the truth, for fear of being accused of being anti-semitic. A master plan that has worked for the zionists.
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Plato. / November 16, 2017
The Buddha tattoo on Colemans arm is by no means an insult to the Buddha. In fact, in all probability, Buddhism must have attracted her. When people sport tattoos of something or other they are only highlighting a belief in a positive sense.
This horrifying and scandalous treatment as per the Three Judge Bench should have attracted a much larger compensation.
As for the Police officers who were involved they should have been sacked for insulting Buddhism. After all Buddhism has been given the foremost place!!?
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Liyanamahathaya / November 19, 2017
When I was very small – living in a secular area in Colombo North I recall seeing Sinhala Catholic men used to tattoo their hands, chest with the image of Jesus Christ. This, I believe, out of veneration. Ms Coleman would have done this in the same spirit – now that we learn she is a follower of Buddhism. From the Lankan perspective it is not a smart thing to do. Incidentally, the Negombo Magistrate gives us an inkling of the quality of judges we produce. The Supreme Court has quite rightly passed censures on him in this instance. But this may not be enough. Judicial officers should dispense justice – properly, wisely and according to the Constitution.
Liyanamahathaya
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Sellam / November 16, 2017
Dear Coleman
What was the reason for you to select the Buddha tattoo on your arm? Is it not stupid of you to get it done instead you could have done something else. A map of Sri lanka on your arm would have been an alternative. Even that too would have been crazy. You crazy tourists have nothing else to do except to do crazy things. The compensation given to you was wrong although you did not break any Sri Lankan laws.
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SJ / November 16, 2017
Sellam
It was not intended to be an insult.
If at all it was a way of expressing devotion.
It was wrong to harass her for the tattoo.
The compensation has nothing to do with the ethics of the tattoo, but concerns pain caused by mistreatment and abuse of power.
*
It is a more serious insult to the Buddha, Sangha and Dhamma for one to don the robe and do things not appropriate to that robe.
It is also an insult to make a business out of statues of the Buddha.
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Sellam / November 17, 2017
I am fully aware that the tattoo was not to insult Buddhism but that is way some of the tourists behave. I would not be surprised if she has a tattoo of Buddha on her bottom.
There are so many other important things to argue about in Sri lanka. To argue about ethics and religion is a waste of time.
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Lasith / November 17, 2017
Sellam
What Sri Lankan Law has she broken?
Instead of being all sentimental please be kind enough to tell precisely.
The same people you call crazy tourists are the same people that are funding a part of our economy. From the moment a tourist sets foot in Sri Lanka the pay.
They are even charged money to enter into Dalada Maligawa, is that a Buddhist thing to do? We are belittling Buddhism by the way we behave and yet have the courage to belittle others.
Let us be rational in our views.
Lasith
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Sellam / November 17, 2017
views varies my dear lasith.
Why should she tattoo on her arm an image of Buddha. She could have bought a Buddha Statue instead. That was a show , the English woman was exposing for others to see. She had not broken any law , as I said in my post, but she doesn’t deserve any compensation. Tourists have many other things to see and do when they visit a country.
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K.Anaga / November 17, 2017
She has already conveyed the reason. Who are you to suggest what a person should tattoo. You are crazy . Lord Buddha is not a God. He was a creation of God like Jesus and other humans and the universe itself. That is, if one believe in a God. I am an agnostic Perhaps lord Buddha too was an agnostic?.
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Chitra / November 16, 2017
It is good for the image of Sri Lanka that this problem was resolved decently. If we want tourists here, we should show some tolerance and not overreact, to tattoos.
We cannot encourage tourists to come here, and then treat them severely for what other democracies would call the right to express themselves. This was not insulting the religion, nor should the land of Buddhist statues, and images, be offended that someone decided to put that image on their arm. We have to show tourists that they are safe here, but that personal tattoos are not our business, and we should tolerate it, for the few days they stay here, spend their money here, and return to their countries.
Or else they will find other nations to tour and vacation.
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Seneka from UK / November 16, 2017
There are so many brainless idiots who bloody stupid. It seems this Jim Softy is one of them. I cannot understand what harm this lady has done by having a tattoo of Buddha on her arm. In fact she probably changed her religion to become a buddhist .and thought of having a tattoo. I have seen few europians with Jesus Christ tattooed on their bodies, But never heard that any of them being arrested in any country. This Jim Softy wants BBS monks to be in politics. These monks have already done enough damage and insulted Buddhism, What the monks have done far worst and degrading. Jim Softy grow up.
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Karikalan / November 16, 2017
The amount of compensation awarded is a paltry sum – abysmally inadequate. Did the SC make any ruling on the core issue involved in the charge? According to mainstream media reports, the Judges only found that the MC had no jurisdiction to order deportation.
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srinath.gunaratne / November 16, 2017
Indeed the compensation is not enough, This lady has done nothing to no one, Ignorance of our police and magistrate sent it this far!
Lord Buddha can be insulted anyway! it does not affect Dhamma! No one needs to be alarmed!
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Native Vedda / November 17, 2017
Srinathan Gunaratnam
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Good to hear from you.
Consider whether the policemen and the Taxi driver were after a piece of white a**e or a santhosam or both.
Were the policemen your friends, relatives, ……………………?
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Singhalese pundit / November 16, 2017
There are so many stupid people among Sinhalese . They would kill people for sake of some religious rituals and defaming some statues and yet they will never bother about human rights of others ..BBS is one of them ..
It is like Isis of Muslims and world does not care about it .world is going crazy now..
End of the day mighty is always rights.
One Buddhists will be strucked by their Karuma..
It will come first to BBS for its lies and then it will follow all ..
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K.Pillai / November 17, 2017
The policemen acted they were expected at that time.
The sentence will have the expected impact on tourism.
Deliberate flaws would have been incorporated so that in due course the sentences ill be set aside on appeal.
Who laughs last?
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Sinhala_Man / November 17, 2017
Dear Sellam & others,
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I remember very well the publicity that this story first received. There were six Colombo Telegraph articles on it at the time, but there’s little purpose in looking for them, since the link cannot be copy/pasted here. On Second thoughts: Please either go to Archives and click for April 2014, or enter her name, Naomi Coleman, in the search box. A Monk, Ven Walpola Piyananda has written an article thanking her for having the tattoo, and apologising for the shameful treatment that she had received. This article has appeared also in Sinhala, on the 1st of May 2014.
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I think that it is very important to note, at this time especially when all ”Sinhala-Buddhists” are receiving a good deal of flack that there were monks like the Ven. Piyananda who were able to think clearly and act on their principles.
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This lady is a Buddhist, and had got the tattoo done out of her veneration for the Buddha. She had been taken aback by the response of the police officers. She had been harassed quite a bit by the Police. As for tattooing a map of Sri Lanka, I don’t think that she had had any extra-special love of our land, except what she had for it as a “Dhammadweepa”.
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Having said all that, it may be that some Buddhists in Sri Lanka may have been genuinely shocked. In that case, this must be seen as a cultural, rather than a religious problem.
On the issue of compensation: well, I don’t know. But why don’t the Rajapaksa family offer to pay the fine on behalf of the country, and of the policemen? After all it was rhetoric of their sort that made this possible.
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Burt / November 17, 2017
What did you expect from a country that has no regard for human rights or the dignity of an individual.
This is a good lesson for anyone thinking of taking a vacation in Sri Lanka specially if you don’t speak the language and have fair skin.
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Backlash / November 17, 2017
Our justice system, notably in recent decades, is seen poorly both within and outside Sri Lanka. These taxi-drivers are a menace. They feed on innocent Tamils coming
from the North-East to Colombo to get their Visas. It is widely believed there was a nexus between these criminals and rogue Policemen. The taxi-driver gets a “cut” out of the bribe these crooked cops squeeze out of poor, rural Tamils.
Since Ms Coleman is British and had some influence she fought back. The Police should be asked to pay her at least 100,000 British Pounds Sterling. In keeping her in their Concentration Camps the Police have done much harm to her and caused her irreparable pain of mind. JCW and his
colleagues have, to some extent, redeemed Sri Lanka’s good name. The IGP should know more than to sing Baila in public in maintaining the earlier excellent traditions of the Police Department. This is a serious Department that interacts with the public daily all over the land. I know the Police today have a rotten reputation
where foreigner visitors are concerned with traffic fines. Visiting journalists have pointedly made reference to this – but the sickness remains.
Backlash
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Spring Koha / November 17, 2017
Ms Coleman suffered from an over-zealous jobs worth, and rightly, justice was done. That is to be applauded.
What is even more remarkable is that it has happened in a country where the chances are much higher of killing a man and getting away with it. Nearly 100% if it is done by the ruling government or its proxies. Let us not rest on our laurels, there is much work remaining to be done.
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Percy / November 17, 2017
The decision to prosecute Coleman was stupid and an insult to Buddhism which promotes tolerance and understanding. The man who should be charged for treason is Ranil for sowing disrespect to the National Anthem, many people have challenged him to declare his religious beliefs and he has arrogantly ignored those challenges.He is a Baptised Christian and there is nothing wrong in that, but the country is entitled to know what his personal beliefs and philosophy is. He can’t be playing it both ways.
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upali / November 17, 2017
How can anyone say that the tatoo was that of Buddha.There were and there are several look alikes sages and ascetics in India. When it suits we call Buddhism a philosophy and when it suits a religion.
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Seneka Goonewardene / November 17, 2017
Jim Softy, You are a brainless idiot, a fool making stupid comments , First you want BBS to get involve with politics. What for, giving more power for these saffron robe thugs to carry on with more violence, These saffron robe thugs who call them selves Buddhist monks have already insulted the Buddhism, Their robs should be taken off and kick their asses, as they humiliate Buddhism , Like I mentioned in my last comment this lady must have become a Buddhist and she had a Buddha tattoo on her arm, Also I had mentioned that I have seen Few Europeans with Jesus Christ tattooed , and never heard that they have been arrested in any country. You Jim idiot, now you claim as this lady is tattoo was done with the instruction of LTTE, How stupid are you?. Have you got any evidence any proof of what you say. Have you any idea what you said was slandering, Obviously you do not know the gravity of slander. She could take you to courts for slander. Therefore before you open make such comment, get your facts right. The compensation what was offered to her is an insult. She has not broken any law in S/L, She should have offered at least ten times more, Rajapaksa’s should pay out of their money. In conclusion, Jim, You have got very little knowledge, in fact none at all.
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Gune / November 18, 2017
Thank you Walimuna and team for taking this noble initiative.
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