Naomi Coleman was arrested as she arrived at the airport in the capital Colombo after authorities spotted the tattoo on her right arm.
A police spokesman said the 37-year-old from Coventry was arrested for "hurting others' religious feelings".
Ms Coleman is being held at an immigration detention camp after a magistrate ordered her deportation.
She is expected to be removed within days.
Sri Lanka is particularly sensitive about images of the Buddha.
Ms Coleman arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport on Monday, having flown from India. Her tattoo features a Buddha sitting on top of a lotus flower.
Last March, another British tourist was denied entry at Colombo's international airport because immigration officials said he had spoken "disrespectfully" when asked about a tattoo of the Buddha on his arm.
Antony Ratcliffe later spoke of his ''shock'' at the incident, insisting that he followed Buddhist teachings and thought a tattoo was an apt tribute.
Two years ago, three French tourists were given suspended prison sentences for kissing a Buddha statue.Culled
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