Sri Lankan President says he wants the organisers of an Enrique Iglesias concert whipped with 'toxic stingray tails'
The singer's "Sex and Love" concert drew more than a big crowd in Sri Lanka.
How do you punish the wicked on the subcontinent?
Once upon a time in medieval Sri Lanka, hardened criminals were whipped with toxic stingray tails.
On Sunday Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena suggested the tradition needed revival. He declared that the organisers of a concert for pop singer Enrique Iglesias were deserving of this extreme punishment, since the happenings at the concert were against Sri Lankan culture.
The video above covers the highlights of the concert, showing the cultural unmentionables too.
The hour-long concert, part of Iglesias' world tour "Sex and Love", which took place in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo on December 20, drew a large female audience, some of whom flung their bras at the singer, ran on stage and kissed him. This is what brought on the Prime Minister's ire.
On Sunday, Yahoo News quoted Sirisena as saying at a public meeting in the eastern district of Ampara, "This is most uncivilised behaviour that goes against our culture. 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 video below shows a bra being flung at Iglesias.
President Sirisena further said,"Hereafter, approval would not be granted for such events. In such events which are limited for some few hours with tickets worth Rs 35, 000, the majority of the youth gets drunk and behaves in an indecent manner. Some women under the influence of alcohol throw their brassieres at the artistes or get on stage and kiss them. I would like to emphasise that such indecent concerts should not be given approval to be held in Sri Lanka again,” Daily Mirror reported.
The organiser – Live Events – a company co-owned by Sri Lankan cricket stars Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, have not reacted to the President's comment.
Tickets for the show were sold out quite quickly, with fans paying between Rs 5,000 and Rs 50,000 to be present at the live performance by the Latin pop star at a rugby stadium in Colombo.