200 couples arrested in Sri Lanka for public snogging

Colombo, June 10 (ANI): The Sri Lankan police arrested Nearly 200 young couples on charges of indecent behaviour here on Wednesday, the Herald Sun reported.

The police acted on the complains filed by the local residents who blamed these people of kissing and cuddling publicly.

It has also detained around 350 and 22 youngsters in Kurunegala and Matara respectively. In Kurunegala many of the girls involved are said to be school students aged only about 15. The police said that this is why they conducted a sweep and detained 350 offending youngsters, later taking them to their parents with a warning that if there is a repeat they may face tougher measures.

It is to be noted that public display of affection is still unacceptable in rural and remote parts of the country due to the hardcore conservative attitude of the people.

However much of the capital city is rapidly racing towards westernisation, says Charles Haviland, BBC correspondant in Colombo.(ANI)