The government has formally protested to Canada over the treatment meted out to three buddhist monks when they went to the Canadian High Commission in Colombo, to obtain visas on Monday.
Cabinet spokesman Mangala Samaraweera said that Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar has sent a protest note to the Canadians.
"We are very concerned about the incident and do not like our venerable clergy being treated in such a manner", he said.
Canadian diplomats disrobed the three Buddhist monks one Sri Lankan and two Thais and made them shower during an anthrax scare at the embassy.
"Talcum powder in one passport caused diplomats to panic and seize all three of them", police said.
