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Offending packs to come off the shelf
From Neville de Silva in London
The major UK supermarket chain has again assured Sri Lankans that packets of tea it sold with an image of the Buddha on them would be repacked before being put back on the shelves.

Sir Peter Davies, chairman of Sainbury's one of the leading supermarket chains, has written once again to the Sri Lankan High Commissioner saying they have "acted in good faith and promptly."

Earlier this month High Commissioner Faisz Musthapha wrote to Sir Peter saying that the apology given previously by Sainbury's for offending Buddhist religious susceptibilities "would be a hollow gesture devoid on any appreciable effect" if the impugned sales are continued.

Sainbury's chairman has said that they have demonstrated they had no intention of offending Buddhists or anyone else. However the chairman claims that to withdraw existing tea stocks while the new packaging is produced would be to deprive customers of this tea for several weeks.
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