Victoria's Secret apologizes for Buddha bikini: Sri Lanka

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AFP) - International lingerie maker Victoria's Secret has withdrawn its Buddha-print bikini and apologised to Buddhists, Sri Lanka's foreign ministry said.

Victoria's Secret made a written apology after Sri Lanka, a majority Buddhist nation, protested against the use of the Buddha images for the company's swimwear.

In a statement, the foreign ministry quoted the company expressing "sincere apologies" and saying it had no intention of showing any disrespect to the Buddha or Buddhism.

Last month, Sri Lanka's police and customs were ordered to seize Buddha Bar music and bikinis sporting Buddha images after the Supreme Court ordered a strict enforcement of laws prohibiting the use of religious symbols for commercial use.

The order was made after Buddhist monk Daranaagama Kusaladhamma petitioned the court to ban Victoria's Secret bikinis with Buddha images, candles in the shape of the Buddha and Buddha Bar albums which carry pictures of the Buddha.

The monk told court the commercial exploitation of the Buddha image had hurt the feelings of Buddhists who constitute nearly 70 percent of the island's 19 million population.