COLOMBO, March 24, 2010 (AFP) -- Sri Lanka yesterday said it had refused US rap star Akon entry to the island following protests that a music video he produced was offensive to Buddhists.

Director General of Information Anusha Pelpita said Sri Lanka would not grant the US star a visa for next month's planned concert at a cricket ground in Colombo.

"The government has taken into consideration the sensibilities of the Buddhists who have been offended by one of his videos which showed scantily clad women dancing in front of a Buddha statue," Pelpita told AFP.

He said Colombo decided to stop the Grammy Award-nominated star's concert planned for April 24, despite hopes from the official Tourism Promotion Bureau that his visit would attract more holidaymakers to the island.