Sri Lanka to sue ad firm over beer commercial

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) -- Sri Lanka's government said Wednesday that it would take legal action against an advertising company for featuring a UNESCO World Heritage site in a Japanese beer commercial.

National Heritage Minister Jagath Balasuriya said a Sri Lankan advertising company had been given permission to film the Sigiriya rock fortress for a commercial that the firm said was for an energy drink. The commercial, however, turned out to be for a Japanese beer. Advertisements on alcohol and tobacco are banned in Sri Lanka, though the commercial was to be aired in Japan.

Balasuriya said that the advertising company violated the agreement and that the government planned to file a lawsuit.

Sigiriya, located in central Sri Lanka, is a spectacular rock fortress and was the country's capital from 477-495 AD.