Corinne Almeida who paid one lakh forty thousand ....

Corinne Almeida who paid one lakh forty thousand ....

to see Enrique's show, demands Mahela-Sanga to return money

Various criticisms are still hailed at Latin American singer Enrique Iglesias' concert which was held last weekend at CR & FC grounds.

Singer Corrine Almeida and her family members who were standing in the very front row of seats had bought 4 VIP tickets priced at Rs. 35000 to see

the concert complain that injustice was done to her and expressing her ideas to a weekend newspaper has thoroughly blamed organisers including Mahela and Sangakkara who compried of members who organised the concert.

What she says is that though she and her family members had obtained VIP tickets and were standing right in front of the stage, the concert had begun 4 hours late and just at that moment a large crowd of people who had bought tickets for a lower price had rushed forward pushing those in front and in the process others including her had been pushed towards the middle thus the intruders occupying their expected position. Corinne who points out that in that particular instance none of the organisers of the concert had come forward to rectify this injustice that took place in that manner and that Mahela and Sangakkara should take the responsibility over such poor organising. She had further asked the organisers to reimburse her money.

Two girls named Lakshmi and Tania too who had come from Oman after having bought VIP tickets to see this concert had to face this very same fate. What they told the newspapers was that they in future would never come to Colombo to see such a concert again.

Enrique Iglesias was brought to Sri Lanka by Live Events (Pvt) Ltd by two world renowned cricketers Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara. Tickets for this concert were priced at Rs. 35000, 30000, 20000, 10000 and 5000. Arrangements had been made to provide liquor throughout the time the concert is in progress, free of charge. Such ticket-holders were in the VIP category and they were afforded the opportunity of watching the concert from the front of the stage till the end of the show while Rs. 30000 ticket-holders had the benefit of tasting beer as much as they liked. In the process, several outlets supplying food as well as liquor were seen erected within the grounds. The CR & FC grounds can accommodate about 5500 spectators. Therefore, the minimum number of people who had come on the 20th night to watch the Sex and Love concert of Enrique Iglesias would have been at least in the region of 5500. The profit gained by sale of tickets runs into hundreds of lakhs.

It is in a spurious manner that the organisers had evaded the relevant entertainment tax too which they are bound to pay to the Colombo Municipality for conducting this concert. They had said that it was a fraud amounting to somewhere close to 3 crores. In the meantime, because of the kissing scene and the flinging of the brassier incidents this concert had contributed to a sensation. The organisers had apologised on the 22nd across the press for the inconvenience caused at this concert held on the 20th.