2 September 2010 07:34 am
While welcoming the move by Indonesia to shut down the Buddha bar operations in the country, Sri Lanka today urged other Asian nations to also follow suite as the international bar chain brought disrepute to Buddhism.
Prime Minister D.M Jayaratna, speaking to Daily Mirror online, said that the international bar chain which is headquartered in France has many outlets in Asia which need to be shut down and subsequently banned from operating in future as well.
“We welcome the decision taken by Indonesia to shut down the Buddha bar but there is more to be done in other Asian countries as well. After that we must push for these bars to be shut down in Europe as well,” the Premier told Daily Mirror online.
Sri Lanka had in June this year alerted it’s missions in Europe to compile reports over the Buddha Bar operations in their respective countries in order to initiate action to urge those governments to close down the Buddha Bar outlets.
The Jakarta Globe reported yesterday that the Central Jakarta District Court in Indonesia ordered the owners of the Buddha bar, Nireta Vista Creative, to close down immediately following a complaint lodged by a Buddhist group in that country.
The group had complained the bar's name and use of Buddhist decorations and statues was a form of blasphemy. A lawyer for the bar owners said they would appeal. (Daily Mirror online)