The Sri Lanka High Commission in the United Kingdom invited representatives of Thailand, Myanmar and Nepal embassies to discuss the issue of using Buddha images for commercial purposes. Thida Aung, Minister Counsellor of Myanmar Embassy, Rutchabhoom Boonrawd, First Secretary of Thailand Embassy and Khimanand Bhusal, Attache of Nepal Embassy attended the meeting held on 15.02.2011 at the High Commission premises. The discussion centred on the restaurant in operation in Fulham area of London by the name of ‘Greedy Buddha’, serving Nepalese food.
It was agreed that all embassies should take individual as well as collective action in this regard. The embassy officials who attended the meeting agreed to persuade their respective religious and cultural organizations in the UK to write to the owner of the restaurant expressing their concerns. The Nepalese embassy will mobilise its expatriates and priests against the using of Lord Buddha’s name in an insulting manner and requested all the other embassy representatives to follow suit.
Mr Saman Ekanayake, Minister (Cultural and Education) Mr Chaminda Kularatne (Consular Affairs), Minister Counsellor of the Sri Lanka High Commission represented Sri Lanka at the discussion. The meeting which is a preamble to take collective action by Buddhist countries against commercialization of Buddha images is an initiative of Acting High Commissioner P M Amza.
High Commission of Sri Lanka
London
16 February 2011
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