President Maithripala Sirisena said he would not allow the country's culture to be destroyed by those who have been submerged by foreign culture.

Addressing a gathering at the awards ceremony of the National Crafts Council at Ape Gama, the President said he would not allow people to walk around naked.

President Sirisena said he is severely being criticised on social media for talking about local values and culture. "I am being severely criticised for my statement on asking to appreciate local values," he said.

The President insisted that no amount of criticism will stop him voicing out for the protection of local values.

"I am a villager who used to walk in the village paddy field and bunds. Therefore I act according to our values and with a clear understanding of good and bad," the President said. President Sirisena recently expressed his disappointment and anger at the organisers of a recent concert by Latin pop star Enrique Iglesias in Colombo.

He said concert organisers should be "whipped with toxic stingray tails (madu waligen gahanda oney)." Enrique is currently on a 'Love and Sex' world tour. His concert in Colombo was part of it.