Alert over Buddha Bar HQ

21 June 2010 02:38 pm - 32 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

By Jamila Najmuddin

The External Affairs Ministry has alerted and sought a report from the Sri Lankan High Commission in France over the “Buddha Bar”, an international restaurant and bar chain which has its headquarters in Paris, an External Affairs Ministry official told Daily Mirror online.

Sri Lanka is seeking information if patrons at this bar chain consume liquor and dance in front of Buddha statues and will take necessary action if found to be true.

According to the Ministry official, all other Sri Lankan missions in Europe where the ‘Buddha Bar’ restaurant chain is situated have also been alerted to begin investigations and submit a detailed report on their findings.

“The External Affairs Ministry has pressed its missions to work on this matter. The Sri Lankan mission in France has also been alerted as the Buddha Bar headquarters is in Paris,” the official said.

However the official added that the European governments had no link to the conduct of this international restaurant and bar chain as it was run by private groups who had over the years answered that it was their ‘freedom of expression’ to permit patrons of the bar to dance around the statues if they wished.

“The European governments have nothing to do with this. It is some private groups who have been running this chain and they have this argument that it is their ‘freedom of expression’,” the official said.

Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne yesterday said that he has decided to take action over the conduct of the Buddha Bar restaurant chain and intends to inform the leaders of the countries in which these bars are located to take action against such places. (Daily Mirror online)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 32

Monday, 21 June 2010 07:56 PM

For someone to respect a religion, the religion has to have the power to command the respect of all. This respect comes only from the manner in which the followers of the religion act. So, let us act in a manner which makes others respect our religion.

Tuesday, 22 June 2010 12:57 PM

There is lot of banyan trees(Bo tree) in UAE , what about that? Keep a statue under every tree and worship.

Tuesday, 22 June 2010 12:44 PM

Is that the only Buddha bar you know? Do you knw there are 'Buddha bar hotels/resorts/spa. Buddha bars are functioning in LA, London, Paris, Cape town, Dubai, NY, Prague Beirut and so on.
Was the govt sleeping for the past few year? What were the ambasadors doing? Perhaps they all had a free drink there.
On the other hand Buddha bar was not open with a bad intension or to put Buddism down. They wanted the name for marketing reasons. I am not trying to justify here I am against any insultation of religious value. But its too late.

Tuesday, 22 June 2010 12:34 PM

Caseser! is Jesus owner of this bar or he asked them to run this kind of bar? Owners may not be belong to any religious. No point of hurting Christine here. If any body hates any religious, All should shout against.

Tuesday, 22 June 2010 08:15 AM

Wrong! There are bars in converted churches in London, still with the original furnishings and I am sure other Western countries. Years ago there was an Italian brand of jeans called Jesus Jeans, look at some of Madonna's old videos, etc, etc, etc. The average Western Christian is just not as you imagine, a few unpleasant American fundamentalist Christians excepted.

Tuesday, 22 June 2010 05:26 AM

What do you say about the buddha Bar at grosvenor-House Hotel in Dbai, U.A.E ?....

Tuesday, 22 June 2010 05:00 AM

Yeah Right!! Take the issue to UN, pass a resolution and don't give Visas to french tourists

Tuesday, 22 June 2010 04:59 AM

you are right, we must first witness true followers of dhamma by our word and action!

Tuesday, 22 June 2010 04:58 AM

Refuse Visas to French tourists!!! So the Frenchs are banned from coming SL. Ha ha ha

Tuesday, 22 June 2010 04:36 AM

We should mind our own business in Sri Lanka. Who are we to tell other countries how to run their society, when we don't expect other countries to give us orders.

Tuesday, 22 June 2010 04:17 AM

lets get our house in order first, before we go after others....does anyone see us as an exapmle?....if not we become hypocrites...just think about it...we have so many wrong things happening in our country....such as cruelty to animals..Are we doing anything about it..? its easy to point a finger at others when they do wrong...but are we living examples....when was the last time you went to the temple...when was the last time you helped the needy...for me that is what matters..I fully support the action taken by the authoities...but i feel we have more work to do right here in our country.

Tuesday, 22 June 2010 04:09 AM

Fully agree with Adam. We point a finger with our own 4 pointing back at us!

Monday, 21 June 2010 09:27 PM

Were our guys sleeping? These bars have been running for the last 2-3 years! I raised this matter, on this blog, after AKON's incident. Glad that these politicos have finally woken-up.

Monday, 21 June 2010 09:26 PM

WE WILL NEVER STOP THESE BY FORCE, BUT ONLY BY EDUCATION!

VERY FEW WILL LEARN THE TRUE DHAMMA!

LET SRI LANKA LOOK INWARD, AND GET ITS HOUSE IN ORDER FIRST!

Monday, 21 June 2010 08:32 PM

Caeser - RajasH, Buddhism is a religion of peace. It has NEVER ever used violence, in any form!

Monday, 21 June 2010 08:04 PM

I would like to mention a remark made by Rev. Ajahn Bramavamso: A person from a different religion told him that there had been an incident where a holy book, of that faith, had been flushed-down a public toilet by somebody, and that they were outraged and insulted by this act. Asked what he would do if a holy book of Buddhism were flushed down a toilet, he replied that he would call a plumber! Therefore, as Buddhists, the most prudent thing to do is to keep to the fundamental teachings and both ignore and show compassion for such ignorance.

Monday, 21 June 2010 02:58 PM

Freedom of expression or insult to other religoin? What if there is a bar called Allah bar in France?

Monday, 21 June 2010 06:53 PM

Can't we wage war on France?

Monday, 21 June 2010 05:49 PM

Before we look for insults to Buddhism, in other countries, let's clear-up our own 'act,' here at home!

Monday, 21 June 2010 05:14 PM

Caesar ... because you are Sri Lankan, because your are not French and because in Sri Lanka we respect all religions and also because in Sri Lanka we don't fight 'fire with fire' when it comes to these kind of things ... your comment is ridiculous!

Monday, 21 June 2010 04:43 PM

The most ridiculous article ever!

Monday, 21 June 2010 04:40 PM

Are other major Buddhist countries like China, Japan and Thailand, complaining about it?

Monday, 21 June 2010 04:37 PM

Is Sri Lanka the sole authority on Buddhism? What about China, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan or even Bhutan?

Monday, 21 June 2010 04:33 PM

Send a 'high powered' team to investigate, by spending the poor taxpayers' money. Don't miss this opportunity to spend lavishly. Enjoy!

Monday, 21 June 2010 04:29 PM

First of all, we should ask ourselves whether we are behaving like true Buddhists, before arguing the "Buddha Bar."

Monday, 21 June 2010 04:23 PM

Better to send the "Hela Karumaya" chaps on a mission to all European capitals to preach "Bana"!

Monday, 21 June 2010 04:14 PM

A very good move by the PM!

Monday, 21 June 2010 03:39 PM

If the France can do that why can't we start a "Jesus Bar" and respond?

Monday, 21 June 2010 03:34 PM

If an image search is done on the Internet, it will be found that images of the Buddha are present. I do not approve of that either, but the Minister might confine his duties to Sri Lanka, where there is more than enough need: such as hitting animals just because they are hungry. People too...

Monday, 21 June 2010 03:32 PM

Several establishments from USA to Russia have this kind of interior decor exhibiting statues of Lord Buddha in Asian fusion restaurants- including Sri Lankan restaurants with bars owned by our citizens from Manhattan to Moscow. Similarly, many Ayurveda type of oriental healing clinics, massage parlors that pander to vice have statues placed in their establishments. Many restaurants serve liquor with dance floors and what not. Is it a crime to have any religious figurines exhibited or to be displayed in our very own tourism trade? At least, we don't have to worry about the middle East as all statues are banned. There's lessons to be learned from the Jewish, Islamic and Orthodox Christianity all of which proscribe idolatry.

Monday, 21 June 2010 03:01 PM

lets send our gallant armed forces to rescue the Buddha and bomb the said bars

Monday, 21 June 2010 02:59 PM

Thia is a great initiate by the PM. THis should have been shut down long ago. If some open jesus bar or allah cafe then that would have been the begining of the 3rd world war. Lets Shut those places at anycost

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Alert over Buddha Bar HQ

Comments - 32

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Western purple-faced langurs see blue!

Most Viewed in News

Corporal from Air Force Rugby pool killed in police shootout

Belgian traveller scammed in Kalutara

Train fails to halt, crashes onto Colombo Fort platform

Sri Lanka’s Rupee leads emerging markets in 1st quarter of 2024

Sri Lanka defaults on USD 6 billion payment despite rising reserves: Patali

Confusion remains if April 15 is a bank holiday

MIRROR CRICKET

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win

Amir, Wasim return to Pakistan national team

Sri Lanka captain quashes retirement speculation; sets sight on T20 World Cup Qualifiers

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Ruwan calls on Kotte Sri Kalyani Mahanayake Thera

Effectiveness of Sri Lanka’s legal system is questioned over alleged corruption: Chief Delegate

Public inconvenienced due to lack of transport

Ex-soldiers joining Russian military as mercenaries, Sri Lanka seeks details

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Security raised for Champions League ties after threat

SLA target four events at Paris Olympic Games

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win