Sri Lanka's government says it will take legal action against an advertising company for featuring a UNESCO World Heritage site in a Japanese beer commercial.
National Heritage Minister Jagath Balasuriya says a Sri Lankan advertising company was given permission to film the Sigiriya rock fortress for a commercial that the firm said was for an energy drink. The commercial turned out to be for a Japanese beer.
Advertisements on alcohol and tobacco are banned in Sri Lanka, though the commercial was to be aired in Japan.
Balasuriya said today that the advertising company violated the agreement and that the government plans to file a lawsuit.
Sigiriya, located in central Sri Lanka, is a spectacular rock fortress and was the country's capital from 477-495 AD.
