In 2025, Sri Lanka seemed poised for a significant cultural moment. A world-renowned American artist, Ne-Yo, three-time Grammy-winning R&B singer and songwriter, was announced to perform in Colombo on December 28, marking his first ever concert in the country. Event Promoters portrayed it as a historic event that would elevate Sri Lanka’s entertainment scene and tourism profile. But as the event approached, the situation unravelled into one of the most controversial and financially damaging entertainment scandals in recent memory, involving allegations of fraud, unpaid debts to major partners, cancelled artist bookings, unanswered refund promises, and claims that the key organizer fled the country.
The Launch: Brown Boy Presents and a Big Promise
The concert was promoted by Brown Boy Presents, a division of the newly formed Brown Boy Pvt Ltd, co-founded by Sri Lankan-American entrepreneur Amith Chandika Boteju (professionally known as Brown Boy), alongside partner Champike Munasinghe and claiming involvement with Ne-Yo himself. Brown Boy’s narrative was that Sri Lanka, long without major global acts, was ready for a cultural renaissance. The event was billed as a flagship concert, supported by a vision to make Colombo a hub for international entertainment and tourism. Sponsors and partners on promotional material included major brands, companies and institutions like Cinnamon Grand, Mastercard, PickMe, Union Bank, Red Bull, and Sri Lanka Tourism. However, early signs of trouble began appearing as ticket sales progressed and operational challenges emerged.
Ticket Sales and Public Reaction
Tickets for the Ne-Yo concert were sold primarily through the PickMe app, with prices ranging from about Rs. 15,000 into higher VIP and VVIP brackets. A VVIP table of ten was priced at Rs. 990,000. Many Sri Lankans raised eyebrows at the pricing relative to local incomes, sparking conversations about affordability and value, even before the concert was postponed. Despite mixed reactions to pricing, the campaign continued aggressively on social media. Brown Boy Presents promoted the event heavily, encouraging sales up until a few days before the scheduled date, adding a sense of urgency and excitement among fans and the general public.
The Collapse: Venue Issues and Postponement
Trouble came into sharp focus in late December 2025. On December 25, organisers announced the concert would be postponed due to “unforeseen circumstances and factors beyond their control”. They assured ticket holders that refunds would be issued via the PickMe app but offered no firm timeline or clear refund process. Almost immediately, behind the scenes, reports of severe financial irregularities surfaced:
1. Venue Booking Cancelled: The Sugathadasa Outdoor Stadium, the intended venue, withdrew its hosting agreement after a cheque issued by Brown Boy Presents bounced due to insufficient funds. This meant the organisers had failed to secure the venue payment despite ongoing promotions and ticket sales.
2. Ongoing Ticket Promotion Despite Red Flags
Even after these venue and payment problems, social media campaigns continued selling tickets vigorously, raising major concerns over ethical responsibility and potential intent.
3. Refund Promises with No Delivery
Official communications issued by Amith Boteju stated that refunds would be processed through PickMe, yet no clear timeline or defined refund mechanism was provided, leaving ticket holders uncertain about whether, or when, they would recover their money. Reliable sources further state that approximately Rs. 96 million was raised through pre-event ticket sales, significantly amplifying concerns over the handling and accountability of these funds.
Allegations of Fraud and Legal Action
As public anger intensified, fraud complaints were lodged with the Kollupitiya Police, including a formal complaint filed by Cinnamon Grand Colombo over unpaid dues. In an official statement, Cinnamon Grand clarified that it acted solely as a hospitality partner and had no role or responsibility in the organisation, ticketing, artist engagement, or financial management of the event. Police have since confirmed that two formal complaints have been recorded against Brown Boy Presents, involving Amith Boteju and Champike Munasinghe, and that the matter is to be referred to the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau (CFIB) for further investigation. Authorities have also indicated that one of the organisers has reportedly left the country, further complicating efforts to establish accountability and pursue enforcement. Adding to the concerns, company registration documents of Brown Boy (Private) Limited, now widely circulated on WhatsApp and other social media platforms, reveal several apparent discrepancies. Most notably, all three listed shareholders have declared the same residential address in Los Angeles. However, a basic online search suggests that the address provided corresponds not to a private residence, but to a retail outlet located at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, raising further questions about the accuracy, credibility, and due diligence associated with the company’s registration details.
Public Backlash and Financial Fallout
Thousands of ticket buyers, everyday consumers who were excited about an international concert experience, now face deep uncertainty over whether they will ever receive refunds. Following the sudden postponement of the Ne-Yo Live in Sri Lanka concert, originally scheduled for 28 December at Sugathadasa Outdoor Stadium, Colombo, organisers promised refunds via the PickMe app, but no firm timeline or detailed refund process has been provided to the public. In the days since the announcement, social media has become a forum for frustration and anger. Many ticket holders report only receiving automated responses from PickMe customer support, and comments on Amith Boteju’s (Brown Boy) social media channels have reportedly been disabled or heavily moderated, fuelling scepticism about whether refunds will ever materialize.
Some users have been advised to pursue bank chargebacks or disputes with their card issuers because the organisers have not delivered the service that was paid for, but many fear this will be a lengthy and complicated process. Reactions from the public and online communities have been overwhelmingly negative. Many feel betrayed, not just financially, but emotionally, after months of anticipation and significant expenditure on tickets. In local forums, discussions have shifted toward larger systemic issues, including:
- Event regulation in Sri Lanka and whether proper oversight exists for concerts of this scale.
- Corporate accountability, especially for partnerships that lend legitimacy to events without verifying financial or contractual foundations.
- Consumer protection law, and whether existing laws adequately safeguard citizens from large-scale event cancellations or fraud.
- Due diligence in public-private partnerships, particularly when public venues, government-linked approvals, and major sponsors are involved.
Many commentators are also criticizing government and sports authorities for granting permissions for the event despite significant financial irregularities, including visible discrepancies in company registration documents provided by Amith Boteju’s Brown Boy (Private) Limited, raising questions about oversight, risk assessment, and the standards applied before approving large events.
Ne-Yo’s Global Schedule
One of the most significant reasons the public is now questioning whether the Sri Lanka concert was ever genuinely scheduled is the complete absence of any official announcement or promotional content from Ne-Yo himself on his verified social media channels since 1 September 2025 referencing a performance in Sri Lanka. While Brown Boy Presents (Amith Boteju) and affiliated promoters actively marketed the event across social media no corresponding post, story, or acknowledgment appeared on Ne-Yo’s own platforms during this period; an unusual omission for an international artist of his stature if a performance had been contractually confirmed. Concurrently, Ne-Yo publicly confirmed and promoted multiple performances elsewhere during the same timeframe, further casting doubt on the practicality and authenticity of the Sri Lanka concert as advertised:
- Ne-Yo was scheduled to perform in Miami on 31 December 2025, headlining an official New Year’s Eve event, as reflected in publicly available event listings.
- He was also appearing regularly in the Broadway musical Hell’s Kitchen in New York, having made his debut in early December 2025 and continuing performances into the new year. The production, featuring music by Alicia Keys, has been widely promoted in theatre publications and across Ne-Yo’s official social media channels.
The combination of these verified, publicly announced commitments, together with the lack of any direct promotion or acknowledgment of a Sri Lanka concert by Ne-Yo himself since 1 September 2025, has led many observers to conclude that the event may never have been formally contracted or fully confirmed with the artist. This discrepancy now lies at the centre of growing public scepticism and has fuelled the belief that the concert may never have been intended to proceed as advertised.
However, at the time of going to print, 28 December 2025, several days after the postponement was first announced, Ne-Yo published the following message on his Instagram: “To my lovely Sri Lankan fanbase… as much as I was looking forward to rocking out with you all, due to unforeseen circumstances, we’re gonna have to do this another time. My deepest apologies. Know that I will see you soon. Can’t wait.” While this statement acknowledges Sri Lankan fans directly, it does not clarify the nature of the contractual arrangements, timelines, or logistical issues surrounding the postponed concert, leaving many key questions unanswered.
Who Is Amith Boteju (Brown Boy) from the U.S?
Amith Chandika Boteju, better known as Brown Boy, was positioned publicly as a Sri Lankan-American musician and entrepreneur with international connections. Promotional material touted his network in the global music industry and ambition to bring global entertainment to South Asia. However, beyond promotional content and brand narratives on his personal social media, there’s little public verification of the financial backing, contractual arrangements with artists such as Ne-Yo, or the due diligence carried out by partners before allowing the concert to proceed.
With legal complaints now filed and allegations of financial misconduct mounting, Brown Boy (Amith Boteju) faces intense scrutiny over his professional and business practices. Investigators are expected to examine multiple aspects of the concert’s organization, including:
- Ticket revenues and banking records to determine whether funds were properly managed, including how the money was transferred outside Sri Lanka, whether relevant taxes were paid, and if all transfers were conducted through official banking channels.
- Venue payments and any bounced cheques, particularly to Sugathadasa Stadium.
- Contracts and agreements with sponsors, to assess obligations and potential breaches.
- Correspondence and arrangements with Ne‑Yo’s management, including whether an official performance agreement was finalized.
- Entertainment tax compliance, specifically whether taxes were remitted to the Municipal Council prior to ticket sales as required under Sri Lankan law.
- Permissions for stage construction at Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium, including how the setup reportedly damaged the athletic track, disrupted training sessions, and how these activities occurred without full payment.
- Outstanding financial obligations, with reliable sources confirming that Brown Boy Presents (Amith Boteju and Champike Munasinghe) left an overdraft facility unsettled at a leading Sri Lankan bank exceeding Rs. 20 million.
- Reliable sources also confirm that the production company contracted to supply sound, lighting, stage, and other technical equipment for the event imported gear in accordance with the technical rider provided by Amith Boteju but has yet to receive full payments. The company now faces an estimated financial loss of Rs. 50–60 million.
- Event insurance compliance, raising questions about whether insurance was obtained in accordance with industry norms for large-scale concerts.
This investigation will likely determine not only the financial accountability of Brown Boy Presents (Amith Boteju) but also highlight lapses in regulatory oversight and contractual due diligence.
What Happens Next?
At the time of writing, the situation remains fluid:
- Police investigations are underway via the fraud division.
- Ticket holders await refund timelines, with many sceptical of recovery.
- Government and industry stakeholders may adopt reforms to prevent similar losses.
- Sponsors are reviewing legal recourse to recoup financial losses and protect brand integrity.
This saga illustrates the risks of inadequate oversight, insufficient financial transparency, and the dangers of mixing high-profile entertainment projects with poor business practices. For many Sri Lankans, it’s not just a postponed concert, it’s a cautionary tale about accountability in business and governance.
