Musical show: Mayor intervenes to take hell out of fire

The hellfire music festival at the much-hyped Lotus Tower complex caused some controversy for the obviously wrong reasons. Once criticism emerged from certain sections of the clergy, Mayor of Colombo Rosy Senanayake was forced to call the organiser of the event to change its theme.

Eventually the show was held on Friday night under the watch of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) officials after the Mayor imposed conditions that the event should be held in a manner that it does not harm religious feelings.

Police had to put a special security unit with over 100 personnel around the tower on Friday night to ensure there were no trespassers while vehicles were parked along the pavements of all adjacent main streets- even in front of the Colombo fire brigade.

The concert goers who purchased tickets at Rs 5000, Rs 6000 and Rs 15,000 had different level of access and entertainment facilities starting from free booze to the company of complete strangers with heavy music in the backround. The event organiser announced that the one night concert recorded Rs 30 million as revenue.

A local who was passing by to witness the fire crackers that lit the night sky noted if any foreigner happens to see this, he or she wouldn’t believe it is happening in a bankrupt nation. “As of now, living in this country itself is like hellfire," he muttered.