Report on Buddha Bars

2 July 2010 10:54 am - 45 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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By Jamila Najmuddin

The Sri Lankan government has obtained reports from its embassies over the operations of ‘Buddha Bars’ in the respective countries including its headquarters in Paris and is now contemplating appropriate action, External Affairs Ministry sources told Daily Mirror online

The External Affairs Ministry had received several reports this past week from Sri Lankan Missions overseas where ‘Buddha Bars’ are located and the government is now discussing with the respective Missions on the suitable action to be taken.

“Since Buddha Bars is a private chain the Sri Lankan government has to deal with the private sector and not with the respective governments. Therefore we are facing many obstacles but our missions are doing their best,” External Affairs Ministry sources told Daily Mirror online.

The External Affairs Ministry had earlier alerted and sought a report from the Sri Lankan High Commission in France and Missions in other countries over the “Buddha Bar”, an international restaurant and bar chain which has its headquarters in Paris.

Sri Lanka was seeking information if patrons at this bar chain consume liquor and dance in front of Buddha statues. Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne had also earlier said that he had decided to take action over the conduct of the Buddha Bar restaurant chain as it degraded Buddhism. (Daily Mirror online)

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Comments - 45

nirntha Friday, 02 July 2010 11:15 PM

Why is it that only Sri Lanka is opposing these 'Buddha bars' Why not other major Buddhist nations like Thailand, Myanmar, Tibet etc.?

Jim Jam Friday, 02 July 2010 01:56 PM

Why are a few of us behaving like a religeous extremist sect ? Where is the tollerance that buddha preached?

deyyiya Friday, 02 July 2010 03:18 PM

Some are some budu - some are not !!!

Saradial Friday, 02 July 2010 03:35 PM

Exactly! Some politisions using Buddhism for there persional benifits and buddism doesn't accept rasism but they trying to use buddism to spread rasism.

citizen1 Friday, 02 July 2010 03:40 PM

This is a nice tactic to try and distract the masses from the atrocities and corruption in our own country. Don't fall for it. They had better lead by example.

Kirthi hewamanne Friday, 02 July 2010 04:03 PM

Simple Solution, hand it over to the Taliban.

daniel Friday, 02 July 2010 06:29 PM

Those who understand the true doctrine of the most-compassionate Buddha, will certainly ignore such things. After all, tolerence is a mark of intelligence! One cannot, by any violent form, achieve any positive result.

RayJ Friday, 02 July 2010 06:31 PM

I bet there will never be "Jesus Christ" or "Prophet Mohamed" bars and restaurants.

Faqi Friday, 02 July 2010 08:50 PM

This cannot be tackled by a hypocritical government!

Chanrudh Friday, 02 July 2010 09:08 PM

I just don't understand what the fuss is all about ... Who do we think we are, some sort of religious police? The 'Buddha bars' have been around for years ... Why rake-up the issue only now?

Ranjith Friday, 02 July 2010 09:15 PM

Buddhism, is a path of practice in spiritual development leading to insight, into the true nature of life!

NISSANKA Friday, 02 July 2010 09:58 PM

Hussein, how would you feel if there were a bar in the name
of your religious leader?

Gayan Thilakarathna Friday, 02 July 2010 01:02 PM

Are we the sole representative of Buddhism?

Neville Fernando Saturday, 03 July 2010 04:30 AM

What are we going to do, surround all the embassies of the countries where these bars are located?

Sammy Saturday, 03 July 2010 05:02 AM

Before going further on this matter, Sri Lanka should take it up with other "Buddhist" countries on this issue and then take joint action, if necessary.

Vice Saturday, 03 July 2010 05:19 AM

China follow communism

upul Saturday, 03 July 2010 09:53 AM

'True Lankan' it is because they practise true Buddhism and don't worry about other peoples affairs. We can only change our own attitudes, '- so the Buddha said.

part Saturday, 03 July 2010 11:32 AM

If anybody should be protecting Buddhism it is India, not countries which imported the religion from India and use it to protect the chauvinistic culture.

Lankawick Saturday, 03 July 2010 02:30 PM

So Sri Lankan Christians & Muslims & Hindus also should not protect their imported religions ???

rajinda silva Saturday, 03 July 2010 03:09 PM

Where was the PM when the Dambulla incident took place.Also take a look at our currency notes.!

Sarath Silva Saturday, 03 July 2010 04:44 PM

What is wrong is protecting our religion, There should be a place and time for displaying Lord Buddha's statue, Will the west call a drinking institution "Jesus Bar" or "Marry's Bar". Why it is when we protect the identity of this Island we are called Lunatics. MR & Govt must stand behind Buddism and its Ideals.
Long Live Buddhism.

Herman Sunday, 04 July 2010 09:45 AM

What is the need for anyone to protect a religion?

jason Wednesday, 23 March 2016 10:05 PM

lets build jesus bar and mohamed bar in paris, same right!

I Hussein Friday, 02 July 2010 12:11 PM

Why Dalai lama and Japan are silent. Its because as Malkanthi says that the chain is pvt owned and drawing lots of business (expanding too - buddhabar hotels there as well). In europe religion or its leaders are not that important to them. They took the name 'Buddha' for business purpose only, not to insult buddism (i dont agree with this at all).
Actually this hue and cry NOW wont make any difference as its too late, it should have been stopped few years ago when the first buddha bar was launched. What was SL & its ambassadors (their excellencies) doing in those countries?

malkanthi Friday, 02 July 2010 11:03 AM

If this is a private chain and drawing lots of customers, it is very unlikely we can do anything nor can voice. Sadly we have not clearly understood what buddhism preaching is all about!

roger Friday, 02 July 2010 11:04 AM

What about the buddha heads which are sold in shops? people hang it in bedrooms and stick them on stick in their gardens. what a disgrace!!

Mahen Friday, 02 July 2010 11:06 AM

Practice buddhism and then preach it.

true lankan Friday, 02 July 2010 11:12 AM

Why are India, Burma and other buddhist countries are silent about this?

bash Friday, 02 July 2010 11:21 AM

Why China is not getting involved in this ??

Saradial Friday, 02 July 2010 11:52 AM

Does government wants to divert focus of public from internal issues?

BUGGER Friday, 02 July 2010 11:53 AM

Well said ,Mahen.

spark Friday, 02 July 2010 12:00 PM

Sri Lanka is very poor example of buddhism. Every wesak and poson, we see dansalas catering for everyone else other than the needy, beggars, disabled.... dirty beggars are chased or made unwelcome in dansalas. Racketeering in illegal sale of liquor on Poya Days is committed by 92% buddhists. Today buddhism is used as a weapon to curtail minorities or other religeons in this country.

LasanthaW Friday, 02 July 2010 12:09 PM

Forget about non Sri Lankans, even some of those who are originally from Sri Lanka do have Buddha Statues in their gardens which are sold in bulk as garden ornaments in shops in western countries.

Gamini Friday, 02 July 2010 12:11 PM

I totaly agree with you...all so called Buddhists in that wonder Island behave disgracefully ,,killing the powerless civilians and I asked then Is that what Buddhism tought them..?? Oh came on...Guys don't make people laugh...!!

sam Friday, 02 July 2010 11:02 AM

Why can't we just worry about our problems without trying to tell others what is right. If we are good Buddhists, then lets observe the dhamma. Our politicians don't like others looking into our affairs but ever ready to pry and lecture others!

paul Friday, 02 July 2010 12:13 PM

Two points. One is that the SL government is constantly preaching that you shouldn't interfere in the workings of other nations and the second is why are Buddhas allowed to adorn the front of SL buses with flashing lights and loud dance music?
Seems all a bit hypocritical to me...

Charitha Friday, 02 July 2010 12:21 PM

Yeah that is something we should look at first in my opinion there are so many of these in garden shops in the UK. if you want a Buddha statue why dont you try the DIY shops and hardware stores. This is a real disgrace and is shows how thick these europeans are!!

rraamm Friday, 02 July 2010 12:22 PM

because they r too busy developing their countries

anthony jones Friday, 02 July 2010 12:23 PM

Akon, would have been the ideal person to resolve this sacrilegious issue, as usual the government has lost another opportunity to get rid of this ugly phenom-en.

In Sydney, Australia in the northern suburbs there is a Buddha park, a nudist colony. a j.

Lokumalli Friday, 02 July 2010 12:30 PM

There's enough to attend to here at home.

The Judge Friday, 02 July 2010 12:31 PM

When Buddhists Monks were mascaraed in Tibet & Mayanmar, Sri Lanka never voiced its concern. Those mascaraed were HUMAN BEINGS, and not statues? Why only about the Buddha Bars?

Prasana Friday, 02 July 2010 12:31 PM

There is no need for such action. People how simply respect the budd they just don’t go that bar. People have the rite do whatever they want as long as it doesn’t violate others rite.

Karl Friday, 02 July 2010 12:42 PM

Focus not on the statue, but on what it portrays. Let us learn to turn the torch inwards for a change.

Sumal Friday, 02 July 2010 12:54 PM

Very difficult to find a place, house or vehicle without Buddha statue or image in Sri Lanka. Now tell me' Are we doing everything right the way Buddha preached? Do not throw stone from glass house.

tishan Friday, 02 July 2010 12:59 PM

why sri lankan cricketerswere not allowed to see dali lama?

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Report on Buddha Bars

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