On August 8, 2018, Sri Lanka issued eighteen stamps within three mini-sheets featuring traditional Sinhalese exorcism rituals, also called “Daha Ata Sanniya” translating to “Dance of demons” or “Illness”. One of the stamps, middle right in the mini-sheet below, depicted “Demala Sanniya”, translating to “Tamil demon”. The man on the stamp with Hindu sacred ash (Vibhuti) on his forehead is dressed in traditional Tamil clothes.

The stamp caused intense criticism in social media and official statements on the Tamil side. These criticisms related the stamp to racism and the fact that Tamils would be equalized to being a disease.

Mini-sheet with disputed stamp (Middle right)

Mini-sheets and stamps not affected