Akon denied visa to perform in Sri Lanka
COLOMBO (Reuters) – Sri Lanka on Tuesday said it would deny a visa to singer Akon, whose planned April concert in the island nation sparked rock-throwing protests by Buddhists offended by one of his videos.
A day earlier, hundreds of people stormed the head offices of the Maharaja Broadcasting and Television (MBC/MTV) Network, a sponsor of Akon’s planned April concert. Four employees were injured and windows and parked cars were smashed.
Akon’s video for the song “Sexy Bitch” features scantily clad women dancing in front of a statue of the Buddha. Sri Lanka’s ethnic majority Sinhalese are primarily Buddhists.
“Taking into consideration the allegations leveled against the singer Akon, the government had decided not to issue him a visa to conduct the concert in Sri Lanka,” Anusha Palpita, the Government Information Department’s director-general, said.
Palpita said that the main allegation against Akon was that he was “defaming Buddhism in his music videos.”
Representatives for Akon could not immediately be reached for comment.
Sri Lanka’s Buddhist clergy are hugely influential in ordinary life and politics, and in the past hardline Sinhalese nationalists have become violent against those they see as offending Buddhism.
The attack by an estimated 200 people on the pro-opposition network, which runs three TV and four radio stations from its headquarters in central Colombo, came as the campaign for parliamentary polls on April 8 heats up.
In December 2004, a hand grenade attack at a concert by Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan killed two people and wounded 19, which was blamed on Sinhalese nationalists angry the concert fell on the first death anniversary of a renowned Buddhist monk.
(Editing by Bryson Hull)
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It is the right of every Budhist to protest which I feel Akon should not be allowed to enter Sri-Lanka. Commercialization has blinded all these money mongers now that they don’t seem to respect nothing. I recall once Janet Jackson (Micheal Jackson’s Sis) had a Video performing on the Shoulders of a Statue of Lord Buddha. Religion or Culture is nothing for these idiots. Their Religion is Obcenitiy. I think Sri-Lanka should be better off without these artists decending while People must work towards developments and prosperity; as we just finished a War; A Presidential Election; and a General Election is on the Way…..AND MANY ARE DISTRACTED.
LET US FOCUS ON OUR COUNTRY’S UNITY, DEVELOPMENT AND PROSPERITY. AND NOT WELCOME THESE PEOPLE WHO DISTROY OUR TRADITIONS.
FROM ABU DHABI
We have to send this Akon bugger to Ranils house for a private mucical show! That will be interesting
its true that MBC/MTV network is always try to distroy our culture.why we cant stop this network totaly from SL.you know why some idiots like Ranil and mangala are with them.
This idiot artist should not be allowed to enter to our Sacred Motherland. They are trying to ruin our culture.
********”Akon’s video for the song “Sexy Bitch” features scantily clad women dancing in front of a statue of the Buddha. Sri Lanka’s ethnic majority Sinhalese are primarily Buddhists”*********
where is a place of woman dancing in front of the Buddha statue. i ‘am not see in the video. if u can send that video link or photos (virusde@hotmail.com)
Thank you inform that
you cant blame akon for the music video, its david guettas video and he is just featuring in it.. it doesnt mean he directed it.. people should understand a R&B star like akon coming to sri lanka is big, people would actually get to know that sri lanka exists.
I love our people who comment above. Thats true..all the sri lankan have to get together at this moment. Now we have freedom our country moving to development… We can proud about our culture..Every body have a responsibility to protect our nation from who try to poison us. Well done Sri Lanka..Good job. Akon should not be allowed to enter Sri-Lanka.
i think akon is the best rnb artist in the universe.there is no doubt.so i think this is a good thing for his fans.
but their behavior doesn’t suit for our culture.
but he’s a well talented singer.he sings 4 our heart.others have mentioned about ‘sexy bitch’.but when it comes to ‘beautiful’,,,,,, woooooow!!!!!!!!!!
‘ when i see u i run out the words…..’
‘i wanna get with you’………..
Akon denied visa to perform in Sri Lanka
Yes you have to denied Mr.Akon because
This what I called respect for “our culture” I’m a young person 2, I love rap song and
r & b but who ever trying to destroying our country doing by this kind of duty money machine we should take them out or put “tayer around the neck n burned them alive” our majority is Buddhist we are Buddhist country with lovable natural beauty around in all the time thats why our country still safe then any other country in the world simple example we don’t kiss on the road because we have our respect for younger generation its not about we don’t have freedom , who is f..akon or who ever performance on stage there should respect full for many things specially basics morals, still some of them in sri lanka f..Stupids Commercialization – blinded m..f.. all these money mongers, now that they don’t seem to respect nothing, I have notice on my vacation some of program called star n this stars f.. bull shit organization still happening in sri lanaka, my personal opening is all the musical performance in sri lanka should be approval from professional personas like “nanda malene, amaradeewa++, or for the young generation who ever respect for our culture may be jagath wekramasinge or there are many ++” I love our people who has positive n heart full comment above. That’s the reality..all the sri lankan have be to gather at this period . we should use our freedom called democratic, We can proud about our culture..Each sri lankan person have a responsibility to protect our nation from who try to poison us like akon or any who destroying our religion, culture or other dirty activities . The dirty money mongers are still blade blind ..let them full open eye and look at other country there suck the lips on the road there called its freedom I called its free for dogs, there do lots of dirty thing in open and called this is open country but I called there are born in wrong way to wrong parents, we are sri Lankans we respect to our parents our relation who is elders who are younger and the neighborhood, the sri lankan entertainments should fined the right respectful way to makes the money – not just kill the dog and make money. Well done Sri Lanka..Good job. Akon should not be allowed to enter Sri-Lanka til he takes out the Buddhists offended on one of his dirty videos.
WE ARE GREAT PEOPLES IN SRILANKA AND THANKS TO GOVERMENT NOT ISSUE VISA FOR THIS MAN, AND SIRASA ALWAYS DOING LIKE WRONG FOR OUR MOTHER COUNTRY.