Sri Lanka has launched an investigation into a photo circulating on social media that claims to show the revered relic of Buddha’s tooth, which is displayed under strict security measures with photography prohibited.
Police are aiming to determine whether the widely shared image comes from the rare exhibition of the relic, which is closely guarded, or if it is a forgery.
Photography is strictly forbidden during the public exhibition of the highly venerated relic, last presented in March 2009. Worshippers are searched, and bags are not allowed inside. The use of mobile phones is also prohibited within the temple.
“If someone took a photo inside the temple, it is a serious security breach,” a police official told AFP, adding that there is a significant presence of undercover officers in the temple.
Approximately 125,000 people visited the relic on the first day of its exhibition on Friday, which remains open until 27 April, according to police.
Sri Lanka’s predominantly Buddhist population believes the Buddha’s left canine is housed in the temple, serving both as a religious artefact and a symbol of state sovereignty.
The influx of visitors to the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy has caused traffic jams, with tens of thousands of devotees camping overnight to see the relic.
