Probe starts into wedding of Sri Lanka police dogs

(AP) Probe starts into wedding of Sri Lanka police dogs
The Associated Press
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka
A police spokesman says an inquiry has started into a group wedding for police dogs trained to detect explosives, after Sri Lanka’s minister of culture condemned the event and demanded an investigation.

The police have already apologized for the wedding earlier this week in which nine pairs of police sniffer dogs dressed in shawls, hats and socks were placed on a decorated platform like those used in traditional Buddhist weddings.

Police spokesman Buddhika Siriwardena said Saturday that police Chief N.K. Ilangakoon had ordered the inquiry at the request of Culture and Arts Minister T.B. Ekananayake, who said the wedding undermined traditional wedding rituals and should be strongly condemned.

Police have said the wedding was a humorous way to encourage the breeding of sniffer dogs, which are expensive to import.