22.04.2025 – (04:30 PM)

Police launched an investigation on April 20 after a photo of a Buddha’s relic, which is often displayed under tight security in Sri Lanka, went viral on social media.

Police said the Criminal Investigation Department has been instructed to investigate whether the photo, which is circulating on social media, is a relic of the Buddha, or not.

Photography is strictly prohibited during the public display of the relic.

This month, the relic was put on public display for the first time in Sri Lanka since March 2009.

Visitors to the temple complex in Kandy will be subject to strict security checks before entering the premises.

It is also forbidden to bring bags or parcels into the school premises, and the use of mobile phones inside the premises is prohibited.

“If someone took a picture inside the temple, it would be a serious security breach,” police told AFP.

“There are also many plainclothes police officers inside the temple,” said a police officer who asked not to be named.

Police said they were investigating whether the photo was taken during the current public viewing of the Buddha’s tooth relic and whether it was authentic.

On the first day of the public viewing, about 125,000 people visited the Buddha’s tooth relic, which was only open for two and a half hours, police said.

The relic will be displayed for five and a half hours in the coming days, and the viewing period will end on April 27.

In Sri Lanka, the Buddha’s relic has more meaning than just a religious treasure; it is also a symbol of national sovereignty.