Sri Lanka's president Maithripala Sirisena has described the behaviour of local women during an Enrique Iglesias as "most uncivilised" and said the organisers should be "whipped with toxic stingray tails", referring to an ancent form of punishment.
Part of the Latin singer's Sex and Love world tour, the concert in question was held in the country's capital Colombo on Dec. 20. The 64-year-old Sirisena was upset by reports of women removing their bras in public, throwing their underwear at Iglesias and running to the stage to hug and kiss him.
Sirisena described this as the "most uncivilised behaviour that goes against our culture." Whipping with stingrays was an ancient punishment used for criminals in Sri Lanka.
Iglesias hasn't commented on the controversy but posted a video of the concert on Instagram.
The concert had been organised by Live Events, an entertainment company owned by Sri Lankan cricket legends Mahela Jayawardhane and Kumar Sangakkara. The company has apologised for "negative experience" and said that security had "failed alarmingly." Though it did not refer directly to Sirisena's comments, it said sorry for disappointing fans who were upset by delays and chaotic crowds.