An Australian hotelier, and founder of the Galle Literary Festival, has been denied entry into Sri Lanka after allegedly flying the Sri Lankan flag upside down.

Geoffrey Dobbs, who owns four luxury hotels in the Galle region, was accused of flying the flag upside down and at half mast, outside each of his hotels in the run up to the Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting last month.

He founded the controversial Galle Literary Festival, which drew calls from Reporters Without Borders and Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka asking literary figures to boycott the event. (See ‘Self indulgent hypocrisy’.)

U. G. Udowita, the head of immigration at Colombo airport, had initially said,

"He tried to enter the country this morning, but we did not allow it”.

However reports indicate that Dobbs has subsequently been granted a one-month visa.

Provincial governor Kumari Balasuriya commented on the situation, stating,

"Neighbours were very angry that he was insulting our country... He is a very undesirable person and we have decided to blacklist him and prevent him from entering the country".

See a few other examples of acts considered ‘insulting’ by Sri Lanka below.

Tourists convicted for insulting Buddhism (21 August 2012)

Arrests made over 'Buddha Bar' meal (27 January 2013)

‘Insulting’ 196-year old British cemetery may be moved (02 August 2013)

SL meterologist apologises for insulting Sinhala king (28 May 2013)