Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena called for the organisers of an Enrique Iglesias concert to be “whipped with toxic stingray tails”, calling the behaviour of concert goers “uncivilised”.
Addressing a public meeting in Amparai, Mr Sirisena was outraged by reports that female fans at the concert had thrown undergarments at the 40 year old singer, while one fan got on stage and kissed him.
Mr Sirisena said that this type of behaviour would have usually elicited violence from locals towards the female fans, but he felt in this instance it was the organisers who deserved the beating.
"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," said Mr Sirisena.
"This is most uncivilised behaviour that goes against our culture," he added. "I need to say these things. As a Sinhalese Buddhist I cannot refrain from expressing my views. I will speak out when our traditions and culture is harmed."
Mr Sirisena warned that such shows would not be allowed to be held in Sri Lanka anymore, telling the crowd “hereafter, approval would not be granted for such events”. “I would like to emphasize that such indecent concerts should not be given approval to be held in Sri Lanka again,” he added.
The concert was organised by Live Events, a company which is co-owned by Sri Lankan cricketers Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. They have yet to respond to the president’s comments.