A Colombo court has sentenced two Muslims to one year imprisonment suspended for two years for insulting Buddhism.

Police arrested Aboobucker Kaleel and Tuwan Rajabdeen in Pettah, the main business area in Colombo, for selling key chains bearing the image of Buddha.

Media reports say the two had committed an offence under section 290 of the penal code, which covers insults to Buddhism.

The accused pleaded guilty and chief magistrate Rashmika Singappulli sentenced them to one year imprisonment suspended for two years on Aug. 17.

The sentence has raised a few eyebrows.

“Images of saints on toys and key chains are on sale” in Sri Lanka, said Abdul Cader, a businessmen dealing in toys in Pettah.

“Are those not blasphemy also?”

A recent international survey has placed Buddhist-majority Sri Lanka as the country having the second highest proportion of citizens who say that religion is an important part of their lives.

Seventy percent of the country’s 20 million population are Buddhists. Hindus make up 14 percent, Christian nine percent and Muslims seven percent.

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