President hits out at organisers of Enrique Iglesias concert, calls it uncivilized behaviour

Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena Sunday said that organisers of a recent concert by pop star Enrique Iglesias in Colombo should be "whipped with toxic stingray tails" because it was "uncivilised, AFP reported.

The December 20 concert in capital Colombo saw ecstatic local women running on stage to hug and kiss the "Hero" singer while others threw their underwear at him, President Sirisena said addressing the prize giving of D.S.Senanayake National School in Ampara. 

"This is most uncivilised behaviour that goes against our culture," the president said.

"I don't advocate that these uncivilised women who removed their brassieres should be beaten with toxic stingray tails, but those who organised such an event should be," the President was quoted as saying by AFP.

Whipping with the tails of stingrays was reserved for hardened criminals in medieval Sri Lanka and is used as a popular idiom for extreme punishment of wrongdoing.

The president was  further quoted as saying, "Some people may criticise me talking about these issues.But I am a Sinhala-Buddhist. It's my duty to talk about these matters," he added.

He also said that authorities should think about positive and negative aspects of such events, before giving approval.

"We should not go after rupees and cents. Our culture should be protected," President Sirisena said adding that 'indecent shows' are damaging the country's culture and reputation.

He said the government would take every possible measure to improve Dhamma education in the country.

There was no immediate comment from the local organiser, Live Events, a company co-owned by Sri Lankan cricket stars Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.

AFP