Naomi Coleman was arrested as she arrived at the airport in the capital Colombo after authorities spotted the tattoo on her right arm.
A police spokesman said the 37-year-old from Coventry was arrested for "hurting others' religious feelings".
Ms Coleman is being held at an immigration detention camp after a magistrate ordered her deportation.
She is expected to be removed within days.
Sri Lanka is particularly sensitive about images of the Buddha.
Ms Coleman arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport on Monday, having flown from India. Her tattoo features a Buddha sitting on top of a lotus flower.
Last March, another British tourist was denied entry at Colombo's international airport because immigration officials said he had spoken "disrespectfully" when asked about a tattoo of the Buddha on his arm.
Antony Ratcliffe later spoke of his ''shock'' at the incident, insisting that he followed Buddhist teachings and thought a tattoo was an apt tribute.
Two years ago, three French tourists were given suspended prison sentences for kissing a Buddha statue.
Let her cut dat part out na "wink
ReplyDeletePp shd respect other pp religion. Mbuk
ReplyDeleteBuddhist
ReplyDeleteMuslims
(overly religious sects)
People like you make them overtly religious when you can't keep your peace & face your doctrines.
DeletePreach brother! Preach!
DeleteLol
Am a massive fan of tattoos (cute ones) but honestly why would some one want such a hideous and digusting tatoo on their body?
ReplyDeleteCeeCee
All these laws and protocols about how people should live their lives and what they should do with their body is totally bullcrap.
ReplyDeleteWhen you go to another man's land you respect his beliefs and traditions. A lot would go well in the world if there"s mutual respect!
DeleteDeport some one because of tattoo???..hia.
ReplyDeletegood for this spoilt British people, always thinking they have a right to do whatever they want.....the same rights that is giving others the right to mess up their country in the name of political correctness.....am a sucker for human rights but we should learn how to respect others......besides disgusting tattoo to even have
ReplyDeleteThis is the problem with Caucasian people in general. They think what ever works in their countries works else where. They need to read up on places before going there. If Ms. Coleman had done her due research, she would have put on a longer sleeve or carried a make up cover up. You can't take your liberalism every where, right or wrong, that is their feeling about their religion and it should be respected.
ReplyDeleteWait wait wasn't Buddha a human being like us all wow what a way to idolize a mere man
ReplyDeleteThis is the reason for the now cliche - 'when in Rome, do as the Romans'.
ReplyDeleteIf being in a Buddhist nation strikes your fancy, no qualms, just find out what their laws are and abide... shinefa!