Too much cheek gets three arrested

Three young men were arrested yesterday for exposing too much cheek atop Pidurangala Rock in Central province. 

Police said that three 19-year-olds have already arrested for posing for the picture with their bare bottoms, while an investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department is under way to catch four others. 

The now infamous pictures, which made it to the national papers of the country, were said to be taken on Pidurangala Rock after a hiking expedition by the group. The mountain, which overlooks the Sigiriya UNESCO Heritage Site, is also home to the ancient Buddhist temple, Pidurangala Rajamaha Viharaya. 

The attention from media also resulted in a complaint by the incumbent monk of Pidurangala Temple for disrespecting religious sentiments, leading to the arrests. The saga also caught the attention of the highest level of the country’s administration, with the Prime Minister ordering a probe into the incident. 

“One of the young men confessed on Facebook and we have arrested three of them,” the Police Media Division told Daily FT.

The Police Media Division said that the youth will be charged under Pornography Prevention Amendment Act No. 22 of 1983 and the Police Ordinance. However not all were happy with Police resources being allocated for the investigation: social media users were quick to criticise the move.  The pictures seem to be following a trend triggered on social media by Instagram page Cheeky Exploits.