Did you attend Natasha’s comedy show? Police will quiz you

29 May 2023 12:30 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 24 Bookmark

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The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is conducting investigations to identify and record statements from those who were present at Nathasha Edirisooriya's stand-up comedy show held in Colombo, where certain disrespectful remarks were made on Buddhism.

Police spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said the Cyber Crimes Investigation Unit of the CID is conducting further investigations into the incident.

He said the police will record statements from some of the attendees as well.

On Saturday, the CID launched an inquiry following several complaints that Nathasha Edirisooriya, a stand-up comedian, had allegedly made disrespectful remarks on Buddhist philosophy and culture as well as Christianity during a stand-up comedy show at a leading girl's school in Colombo in April this year.

The video of the show went viral on social media last week, sparking a protest against her remarks. Later the suspect on an online video publicly apologized for the controversial statements she had made. The particular video was also removed from the social media platform.

The CID on Sunday arrested Nathasha Edirisooriya at the Katunayake airport while she was trying to leave for Singapore. She was later remanded till June 07 by Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage.(Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya)

Comments - 24

Read between the lines. Monday, 29 May 2023 12:55 PM

We Sri Lankans voted 196 parliamentarians and then said all of them plus the 29 from the National List total 225 are rogues and want all of them out. This was during the Aragalaya. Now everyday the newspapers are showing corruption of Government employees (other than the 225). Showing students (a large amount of aragalaya participants were students) who are violent and hitting elders etc. On another front Social media posts are getting tracked and initiators and forwarders of such posts gets arrested. Then we have various comments by preachers and jokers becoming a social disgrace. Basically this country is tactfully establishing its not only the 225 that are a disaster, even those who did aragalaya or their govt employed parents, siblings, uncles aunties are also corrupt. and social media is a trouble spot. Be careful when forwarding messages when the next aragalaya happens as there are so many laws. Basically democratically protesting and social media can get you in trouble.

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Jayantha Monday, 29 May 2023 01:06 PM

Making necessary ground work to help Namal win at next election. Thalduwa is a big supporter of that family. RW will be kicked out soon. Lol

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Mind Games Monday, 29 May 2023 01:06 PM

According to Wimal Weerawansa the American ambassador used the Aragalaya where all kinds of drama skits humour creativity was used to ridicule the government to plant RW in the top chair. Now we have Natasha in trouble for her comments. All in all youth will be asked to be more careful with their liberal behaviours as there are various laws that can be used to get you in trouble. So the neutral Judiciary will be the weapon to curb open expression.

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Punchi Monday, 29 May 2023 01:08 PM

Militant Buddhism is one of the reasons for our decline and needing to beg Christian, Muslim and Hindu countries for money to keep our militant monks in luxury. I was at the show, try and find me.

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hm Monday, 29 May 2023 01:25 PM

Are we going to be like Saudi Arabia?

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Cisco Monday, 29 May 2023 01:29 PM

Even Loard Buddha was alive there were certain people disrespect to him. But nothing was happened other than value of buddhism add more and more. How this lady bring disrespectful to buddhist? Nonsense government and its allies bring topics to general public to hide real burning issues ha ha….

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Bryan Ekenaike Monday, 29 May 2023 01:31 PM

Does this mean that all who attended and partook in the frivolities of the show will be prosecuted?? PLEASE EXPLAIN

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DJ Monday, 29 May 2023 01:37 PM

What a joke, while Crooks and criminals are rooming freely. Disgusting

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God Monday, 29 May 2023 01:45 PM

All must be mental cases . Earlier Jerome and now Natasa. We must be watchful about Gnanasara.

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Fred Rodrigo Monday, 29 May 2023 01:46 PM

Belittling religions by comedians is common in Western countries, that takes young people away from Spritual way of life. This has led to a culture of death in drugs,leading to increased depression, mental illness and suicide. While I have disagreed with SL Police on prominent arrests which ended in no procecutions , in this instance I fully support. IGP and AGplease follow through and get this to court soon.

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Dr.Herath Monday, 29 May 2023 02:16 PM

Banana Republic!!

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Sokrates Monday, 29 May 2023 02:31 PM

Neither of the founding fathers of these two religions (or philosophies) had any intention of building up a large organization. And neither Jesus nor Buddha would have wanted anyone who disrespected their beliefs to be punished and imprisoned or, in the case of the Catholic Church, burned at the stake. (Who are these bigoted and megalomaniac believers and officials in this country who think they can disregard the wishes of their religious founders?) Each of the religions mentioned has to blame itself for not being respected anymore. Shortly after the death of their religious founders, the clergy no longer followed their rules. All live a sometimes extravagant life at the expense of their believers. In both religions it is common for young boys to be sexually abused. Both religions are actively involved in the country's political life and want to restrict people's way of life. My conclusion: to hell with all religions. As Karl Marx rightly said: "Religion is the opium of the people".

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Des Monday, 29 May 2023 02:37 PM

As usual jobless pol ICE work

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Ram Monday, 29 May 2023 02:47 PM

Disrespectful remarks on any religious leader is unacceptable. Buddha when such remarks were made to his face said "when you give something if that is not accepted where will it end" The speaker said it remains with me. Buddha replied "I don't accept what you said and they are all yours"

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Elwyn Monday, 29 May 2023 02:59 PM

The majority of Sri Lankan Buddhists have been misled by the clergy. Arresting this woman is not the Buddhist way. We should humour her for her ignorance and not attend her bigoted comedy show. These so called comedians get there laughs at the expense of other people's feelings.

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Em Monday, 29 May 2023 03:22 PM

Never aware of the SL has blasphemy law in place. Only hurting bhuddism are arrested I remember some monks were openly making sensitive remarks on other religion those days

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A Monday, 29 May 2023 03:51 PM

So all people at Pasot Jerome church will be arrested who went for Sunday Service

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Spiritual talk does not satisfy an empty stomach!! Monday, 29 May 2023 04:07 PM

Get over it Sri Lanka. This obsession with religion will take you backwards and you will need to beg from developed countries (and the diaspora) to sustain you until the next Buddha arrives. We live in a material world and no amount of spiritual talk will satisfy a hungry stomach!

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Socrates Monday, 29 May 2023 04:12 PM

Wonder what would the Buddha say in response to actions initiated by some in the name of protecting Buddhism.

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Nadaal Monday, 29 May 2023 06:23 PM

People have lost respects in democracies and willingly or unwillingly keep uttering nonsense to make people laugh. There should be a line that should not b allowed to cross.

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Mary Thiagarajah Tuesday, 30 May 2023 04:16 AM

Insulting a religion intentionally is not acceptable. We also should think about the great freedom of speech that has given to us that no one can ever take away. If a responsible person intentionally talking wrong about religion to create disharmony among people or for his or her own benefit is a trouble maker. We should clearly understand the contents of the speech before criticizing. If it’s true, we can accept and if it’s not, we simply reject because it’s his or her opinion. When it comes to comedians that their talk is completely a joke enjoyable or not. Unless if the comedians use foul language, it can be considered a joke. They can indirectly make fun of gods and in that case, can we file a case and ask for the meaning? So it’s not knowledgeable or civilized to punish comedians as long as they do not use foul language. This time they can use certain religions and next time maybe other religions. A comedian talk is simply a joke.

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Kanthy Tuesday, 30 May 2023 06:15 AM

I didn't attend this but I wish I did . I thoroughly enjoyed her act it was hilarious. She is better than Dave Chappelle and Ricky Gervais put together.

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Rohan De Silva Tuesday, 30 May 2023 02:50 PM

I am fully supportive of Blasphemy laws in countries like Sri Lanka. The reason being any religious insult (perceived or actual) is enough to send marauding angry street mobs (and some instances encouraged by so called religious monks) on rampage burning and looting properties, and even harassing and harming people . We have seen that in Sri Lanka before many a times it is quite sad

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Authorities trying to cause Tsunami of mental illnesses Tuesday, 30 May 2023 04:26 PM

How easily people seem to be offended due to religious insults is worse now than I've ever seen for being an adult here for 40 years. In other countries, those being overly sensitive on theological or theoretical matters are either well on the path mental illness or trying to use that to get dictatorial control over others. With no elections in sight, I feel the motives of government MPs is more about diversion than helping society.

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