No ban on foreign singers performing in Lanka

The Government says there is no move to ban top foreign singers from performing in Sri Lanka despite concerns raised over a recent concert.

Minister S.B. Dissanayake said the President Maithripala Sirisena was concerned over the conduct of local fans at a concert staged by Latino star Enrique Iglesias in Colombo last week but was not against the singer.

Earlier this week the President said the Enrique Iglesias concert organised by?Live Events Sri Lanka and staged in Colombo had a negative impact on local culture and tradition.

He said the concert saw some girls removing their undergarments and throwing it towards the singer while one girl got on stage and kissed him.

The President said that usually people will punish the girls for their behavior at the concert but he feels the punishment should be given to the organizers.

His comments drew strong criticism from social media users but on Tuesday the President defended his views.

The comments made by the President also drew wide international media attention including on the top music website Billboard.

Former Cricketers Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena who are the board members of Live Events Sri Lanka, later?called for an internal inquiry into the shortcomings at the?Enrique Iglesias concert staged in Colombo and have also decided to compensate the fans.

Sangakkara and Jayawardena said in a joint statement that the organizers are in agreement, with their?direction, that such shortcomings must not be tolerated. (Colombo Gazette)