Hello and welcome to the details of ‘Serious security lapse’: Sri Lanka police investigate alleged breach over Buddha tooth relic photo circulating on social media and now with the details
Nevin Al Sukari - Sana'a - A military official (right) tries to help devotees avoid chaos during a gathering for a public exposition of the sacred Tooth relic of the Buddha at the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy April 18, 2025. Tens of thousands of pilgrims thronged Sri Lanka's holy city of Kandy on April 18 at the start of a rare display of a prized Buddhist relic, triggering traffic chaos and public protests. — AFP pic
COLOMBO, April 20 — Sri Lanka police launched an investigation today into a photo circulated on social media claiming to show a Buddha tooth relic, which has gone on display under tight security.
The Criminal Investigation Department was ordered to determine whether the widely-shared image was from the rare display of the relic, police said.
Photography is strictly prohibited during the public viewing of the highly venerated relic, which went on display this month for the first time since March 2009.
Devotees are frisked before being allowed into the sacred area of the Temple of the Tooth in the central city of Kandy. No bags or parcels are permitted, while the use of mobile phones is also banned inside the temple.
“If someone took a photo inside the temple, it is a serious security lapse,” a police official told AFP.
“There is a significant presence of plain-clothed officers inside the temple,” he said, requesting anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media.
A general view of the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy on April 18, 2025, ahead of a sacred exhibition of what Sri Lankans believe to be Buddha's left canine. — AFP pic
A police statement said detectives would investigate whether the photo had been taken by a worshipper during the current exhibition, or whether it was a doctored image.
Police reported that an estimated 125,000 people worshipped the relic on the first day of the display, which was open for just two and a half hours.
On subsequent days, the exhibition is open for five and a half hours. The 10-day exhibition ends on April 27.
Sri Lanka’s majority Buddhist population believes that the Buddha’s left canine is enshrined at the temple. It is more than an object of religious devotion — it is also a symbol of state sovereignty.
The huge crowds visiting the Temple of the Tooth has led to traffic chaos in Kandy, while tens of thousands of devotees have also been camping overnight to worship the relic. — AFP
These were the details of the news ‘Serious security lapse’: Sri Lanka police investigate alleged breach over Buddha tooth relic photo circulating on social media for this day. We hope that we have succeeded by giving you the full details and information. To follow all our news, you can subscribe to the alerts system or to one of our different systems to provide you with all that is new.
It is also worth noting that the original news has been published and is available at Malay Mail and the editorial team at AlKhaleej Today has confirmed it and it has been modified, and it may have been completely transferred or quoted from it and you can read and follow this news from its main source.
