Naomi Coelman, the British tourist who was deported from Sri Lanka for having a Buddha tattoo on her arm, told BBC Breakfast News this morning: "I don't think I would go back."

She made this remark despite tourism authorities of Sri Lanka tendering an apology to her over the incident.

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"They have offered me a free package to go there, so they know they were in the wrong regarding the way I was treated and shipped off.

"They have offered me a free package there but there would still be police and people who would know who I am, so I would be quite scared really. "

A police spokesman said Ms Coleman was arrested for "hurting others' religious feelings" after her tattoo of a Buddha seated on a lotus flower was spotted on her right arm.

Coleman said she had been to Sri Lanka twice before and was prepared to cover the tattoo up, but she was still taken into custody.

Buddhism is the religion of the country's majority ethnic Sinhalese and Buddhist tattoos are seen as culturally insensitive.

Antony Ratcliffe was reportedly deported for showing a Buddha tattoo on his arm in March last year.

In 2011, Thailand's Culture Ministry said foreign tourists in Sri Lanka should be barred from getting tattoos of Buddha during their holidays because the practice was culturally insensitive.

R&B star Akon was refused a Sri Lankan visa in 2010 and had to apologise to Sri Lankan Buddhists after his video for Sexy Chick, which featured a pool party in front of a Buddha statue, caused offence and protests in the nation.