PALLEKELE: A Sri Lankan court on Wednesday jailed and fined an Australian streaker for indecent exposure during a cricket Test between the nations, an act which local Buddhist priests found offensive.

The man, identified as Alexander James from Queensland, was jailed for one week for his naked run across the ground in Pallekele near the picturesque town of Kandy during Tuesday’s washed-out final session on day one.

“He was charged on two counts — drunken behaviour at a public place and indecent exposure,” an official at the Kandy magistrate’s court said by telephone. “He was also fined Rs3,000 ($20).”

Footage showed the man jump the fence, strip, then run across the covers brought on to protect the ground from rain that had halted play. As an armed police commando tried to tackle him, he ran off the ground but was arrested later.

A police official said they pressed charges in part because his actions had hurt the sensibilities of Buddhist priests in Kandy.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2016