SRI LANKA yesterday promised to revoke a rogue bikini ban raising eyebrows at a popular seaside resort, as the authorities urged tourists to wear what they want at the beach. The signs erected by local police at Habaraduwa Beach, about 130 kilometers south of the capital Colombo, depicted a pair of Western women in bikinis crossed out with a red “X.” “According to Sri Lankan culture, please dress in an appropriate suit,” it stated, declaring bikinis “improper.” A police official in Colombo said local law enforcers had not sought approval for the signs, which stirred controversy after going viral on social media. Tourism authorities said visitors to the island’s famed coastline had nothing to worry about, and steps were being taken to remove the signs. “Dress code policing is unneeded and unwarranted for tourists enjoying the scenic beaches of Sri Lanka,” the Tourism Development Authority said. (SD-Agencies) |